01ST1786
A heavy snowstorm in the Northeast dumped a foot of snow from New Jersey to New Hampshire.
Five piers of the Charles Bridge were destroyed at Boston, MA by gale force winds and high tides.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1845
The first commercial telegraph line was opened on this date.
This made the science of weather forecasting possible as observations could be gathered in real time, plotted on a map and forecasts drawn from the data.
Communities could also be warned about approaching severe storms and tornadoes.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1875
The first daily newspaper weather map was published by the London Times.
The first American newspaper weather map would be published on 5/12/1876 in the New York Herald.
Weather maps would first appear on a regular basis beginning on 5/9/1879 in the New York Daily Graphic.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1912
A tornado with incredible velocity ripped into downtown Houston, TX breaking the water table and giving the city its first natural waterspout.
(Weather Channel)

1918
A strong cold front moved through the upper Midwest. Temperatures ahead of the front climbed into the 60s and 70s.
Meanwhile, temperatures fell into the 20s by the end of the day behind the front. Fayette, IA had a high temperature of 79° and a low temperature of 23°.
This 56 degree diurnal temperature change is the greatest ever recorded there.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1923
The minimum temperature was 13°F the coldest ever in April with record barometer for April of 30.74 inches.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)
Residents in the eastern U.S. awoke on "April Fool's Day" to bitterly cold temperatures.
The mercury plunged to -34 degrees at Bergland MI and to 16 degrees in Georgia.
(David Ludlum)
The low temperature of 19 °F is the lowest ever recorded in Richmond VA for the month of April.
(Ref. Richmond Weather Records - KRIC)
The minimum temperature for the date is 15°F. in Washington, DC.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)

1945
Snow fell across Denver and northern Colorado for 51 consecutive hours on this date through April 3rd.
While the storm was did not produce excessive snow, the long duration made the event a heavy snow producer.
Downtown Denver reported 10.7 inches while 9.5 inches was reported at Stapleton Airport.
This was an unusually cold air mass for this time of year.
The high temperature of 26° on April 2nd and 17° on April 3rd were low maximums for the dates.
The high of 17° on April 3rd was a record low maximum for April.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1960
The first weather satellite, TIROS 1 (Television and Infra Red Observation Satellite,) began sending pictures back to earth.
The TIROS series would have little benefit to operational weather forecasters because the image quality was low and inconsistent.
The most important understanding achieved from the new technology was the discovery of the high degree of organization of large-scale weather systems,
a fact never apparent from ground and aircraft observations.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1970
11 inches of snow fell at O'Hara Airport, Chicago closing the airport.
This is the biggest snowstorm for so late in the season.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1973
Tornado touches down near Brentsville, Virginia, then traveled into Fairfax hitting Woodson High School injuring 37, $14 million in damage.
(The Washington Post)

1974
A wind gust of 82 mph was recorded at Nashville, TN, the fastest known wind gust ever recorded in the city.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Forty-five cities across the southeastern U.S. reported record low temperatures for the date.
Lows of 37 degrees at Apalachicola FL, 34 degrees at Jacksonville FL, 30 degrees at Macon GA, and 22 degrees at Knoxville TN, were records for April.
(The National Weather Summary)
A tornado touched down briefly during a snow squall on the south shore of White Fish Bay (six miles northwest of Bay Mills WI).
A mobile home was unroofed and insulation was sucked from its walls.
(The Weather Channel)

1988
A powerful spring storm produced 34 inches of snow at Rye CO, 22 inches at Timpas, OK, 19 inches at Sharon Springs, Kansas and up to 35 inches in New Mexico.
Severe thunderstorms associated with the same storm spawned a tornado that caused 2.5 million dollars damage at East Mountain TX.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989
Up to six inches of snow blanketed the Adirondacks of eastern New York State and the Saint Lawrence Valley of Vermont. Up to a foot of snow blanketed the Colorado Rockies.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1990
Thunderstorms produced severe weather in Texas, from southern Arkansas and northern Louisiana to southern Georgia, and from northern South Carolina to the Upper Ohio Valley during the day and evening.
Thunderstorms spawned a tornado at Evergreen AL, and there were more than eighty reports of large hail and damaging winds.
Thunderstorms produced baseball size hail north of Bastrop LA, and produced damaging winds which injured one person west of Meridian MS.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1997
Mother Nature played a cruel springtime joke on the northeast.
After the area had basked in 70 degree warmth for several days, a strong nor'easter moved up the coast, dumping up to 3 feet of snow in some areas.
The storm began on March 31st, and winded down by midday on this date.
A 978 millibar low cutoff just south of New England spun a tremendous amount of moisture in from the Atlantic with southern New England and eastern New York bearing the full brunt of the storm.
500,000 people lost power because of the heavy, wet snow and high winds.
Five people were killed. At its peak, the storm knocked out power to nearly 13% of New England or 750,000 people.
Boston, MA recorded 25.4 inches of snow for the storm, all in 24 hours for its greatest 24 snowfall on record, its third biggest snowstorm overall and their snowiest April ever.
(Ref. The Major Late Season Snowstorm)Ref. (NWS Ranking for Storms between 1956 and 2011) This is the 38th Worst Snowstorm(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1915
10 inches of snow fell at Raleigh NC; a record for the month of April. This storm hit Richmond, Va on the 3rd.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1936
An F4 tornado cut a 15-mile path through Crisp County, GA. Hardest hit was the town of Cordele, where 276 homes were destroyed in a five block swath through the town.
The storm was on a course that would have missed the center of town, but it made a left turn towards the end of its path. 23 people were killed and 500 injured. Total damage was $3 million dollars.
Oklahoma City's morning low temperature of 20° set the all-time coldest April temperature recorded in the city.
This record was later tied on 4/13/1957.
Billings, MT fell to -5° which seta record low for April and is the only day the temperature has fallen below zero in April.
Sheridan, WY fell to -14°. Dodge City, KS established their record low for April when they dropped to 9°.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1957
An F3 tornado tore through Dallas, TX. 10 people were killed and 216 were injured.
Total damage was $1.5 million dollars. This tornado was among the most photographed and studied in history.
A spring storm dumped 17.3 inches of snow at Stapleton Airport in Denver, CO. Gusty winds over 30 mph created blizzard conditions which reduced visibilities to 1/8 mile at times.
The 24-hour snowfall had been exceeded only twice in previous years and the 24-hour precipitation of 2.05 inches was the third heaviest in April.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1970
Sea level pressure of 28.86 at BWI was the lowest in history in the month of April in Maryland.
Philadelphia had a barometric pressure reading of 28.82 inches, the lowest April pressure on record.
The old record was 28.91 inches set on April 2, 1970.
(Ref. April Northeaster Storm History - Weather Channel)(Ref. )

1975
Chicago received 9.4 inches; their greatest snowfall ever recorded for this date.
Up to 20 inches fell in extreme northeastern Illinois. The snow did not completely melt away until 11 days later.
The northeastern U.S. was in the grips of a severe storm, which produced hurricane force winds along the coast, and two to three feet of snow in Maine and New Hampshire.
Winds atop Mount Washington NH gusted to 140 mph.
The biggest snowstorm of record for so late in the season paralyzed Chicago IL.
Up to 20 inches of snow fell in extreme northeastern Illinois,
and 10.9 inches of snow closed Chicago's O'Hare Airport.
(The Weather Channel)(David Ludlum)
Garden City, KS tied their record low for the month of April with 13°.
The low of 12° established the record low for the month of April at Liberal, KS.
Denver, CO also recorded their record low for the month of April when they dropped to -2°.
This is also the latest below zero reading for the season.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1982
Severe thunderstorms spawned fifty-six tornadoes in the central U.S., including seventeen in the Red River Region of Texas and Oklahoma.
The tornadoes claimed thirty lives, and injured 383 other persons.
A violent tornado near Messer, Oklahoma left only the carpet tack strips on the slab of a house it destroyed, and carried a motel sign thirty miles.
(The Weather Channel) (Storm Data)(Ref. Much Additional Information)

1984
A late season winter storm blasted Nebraska, northeastern Colorado, and southern South Dakota.
24 inches of snow was recorded at Mullen, NE. Winds gusting to 50 mph created 3 to 6 foot drifts.
22 inches of snow fell in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Interstates 70 and 76 were closed east of the Denver, CO stranding over 1,000 travelers in Limon, CO.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Eleven cities in Florida reported record low temperatures for the date, including Tallahassee with a reading of 31 degrees.
The low of 48 degrees at Key West smashed its previous record for the date by 13 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary)

1986
On this date through April 3rd, the worst snowstorm of the season struck northern Colorado including the Denver metro area.
Portions of all interstate highways out of Denver were closed at times.
Trees and bushes had already bloomed. The snow and wind snapped many of those causing power outages.
Total snowfall amounts in metro Denver ranged from 1 to 2 feet with 2 to 3 feet in the foothills.
Snowfall totaled 12.6 inches at Stapleton Airport where winds gusted close to 40 mph reducing visibilities to 1/8 mile in blowing snow.
Most of the snow fell on April 3rd when temperatures remained below freezing most of the day.
A 100,000 square foot section of a greenhouse roof collapsed in Golden, CO destroying over $1 million dollars worth of plants.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
A late season snowfall began on this date from Ohio into the Deep South.
When it was all over, 60 inches of snow fell at Newfound Gap, NC to establish a new state snowfall record from a single storm.
Several cities in Florida reported record low temperatures for the date, including Tallahassee with a reading of 31°.
The low of 48° at Key West smashed their previous record for the date by 13 degrees.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1988
Thunderstorms produced up to nine inches of rain around New Orleans LA causing 18 million dollars damage.
A tornado caused three million dollars damage at Slidell, LA.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1989
Strong and gusty winds prevailed from California to Colorado and Wyoming. Winds gusted to 50 mph at Lancaster CA, and reached 85 mph at Berthoud Pass, CO.
Snow and high winds created blizzard conditions in the Colorado Rockies.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1990
Thunderstorms produced severe weather in North Carolina and Virginia during the afternoon and evening.
Thunderstorms produced golf ball size hail, and spawned a tornado near Chester VA, which caused half a million dollars damage.
A storm system produced snow and gale force winds across northern Michigan, with 8.3 inches of snow reported at Marquette.
Temperatures in the north central U.S. soared from morning low in the 20s and 30s to afternoon highs in the 60s and 70s.
Eight cities reported record highs for the date, including Havre MT with a reading of 77 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1997
Flagstaff, AZ was buried under 28 inches of snow for its second largest one day snowfall total ever.
The city ended up with 44.3 inches of snow for the storm.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2005
Heavy rainfall in the northeast produced flooding in parts of New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania.
Severe flooding along the Delaware River forced the evacuation of 6,000 residents in New Jersey
and over 5,700 in Pennsylvania through April 3rd.
Approximately 3,200 homes in New Jersey were damaged, while one fatality was reported in New York.
Cleveland, OH received 6.4 inches of snow to raise its seasonal snowfall total to 105.3 inches: a new record for the city.
The old record was 101.1 inches set back in 1995-96.
More snow occurred later in the month and the final 2004-2005 seasonal total ended up at 117.9 inches.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2006
Central Mississippi Valley/Ohio Valley:
Widespread severe weather produces a major tornado outbreak As many as 86 tornadoes are reported across Iowa, Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas, Kentucky, Indiana and Tennessee.
At least 23 deaths ae attributed to the storms across the region(Ref. WxDoctor)

APRIL
3RD1898
A snowslide near Chilkoot Pass, AK in the Yukon during the Gold Rush buried 142 people and killed 43 others.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1901
Storm with a barometer reading of 29.10 at WBO and gave Baltimore 2.80 inches of rain.

1915
Richmond, VA had a high temperature for the day of only 37 °F matching the coldest April day on record (records since 1897).
The other date with a 37 °F maximum was April 8th, 1972.
(Ref. Richmond Weather Records - KRIC)
The barometric pressure fell to 29.31 inches At Cape Henry, Virginia and they recorded a maximum wind gust of 74 mph from the NE on April 3, 1915.
This storm covered mainly the central and eastern part of the state and more than half the state received very little snow. But where the storm impacted it was nearly twice as
great a snowfall amount as ever before known in the month of April. Other snowfall totals recorded in Virginia with the amount in inches followed by the water equivalent. The most
was in Warsaw about 60 miles northeast of Richmond 12 ins. (1.40 ins.) Fredericksburg 7.8 ins. (0.78) Ashland 7 ins. (1.03) Petersburg 5.0 ins. (0.84) Lynchburg 2.3 ins. (0.58) Williamsburg 2.0 ins. (1.05)
and to the north Washington, DC 3.5 ins. (0.44)Ref. See April Weather Map for April 3rd.Ref. Monthly summary for Cape Charles, VARef. See Virginia weather for April 1915 pp. 27 - 28
Southern New England received more snow with 19.4 inches in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 17 inches in Trenton, New Jersey, 15 inches in Dover, Delaware, and 10.2 inches at New York City.Ref. www.Easternuswx.Com for April 1915
The following are some of the largest amounts in Maryland and Delware: 10" Salisbury, Md., 10" Solomons, Md. 10" Easton, Md., 10" Denton, Md.,
12" Millsboro, DE, 12" Wilmington, DE, the jackpot, 15" Sudlersville, Md., and 15" Dover, DE.
Only 2.0" at College Park, 4.5" to 6.5" at Baltimore, Md., 4.0" at Fallston.
(Ref. Herb Close, Jr., Manchester, Maryland 21102 part of his Maryland Weather Research Project. )

1936
St. Louis, MO dropped to 20°; their lowest April temperature on record. Sioux Falls, SD dropped to 4°;
their coldest temperature ever recorded for the month of April.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1955
Record snows fell in north central Wyoming and south central Montana.
Billings MT received a storm total of 42.3 inches, and on the 4th reported a record snow depth of 35 inches.
Sheridan WY established a 24-hour snowfall record of 26.7 inches. (2nd-4th)
(The Weather Channel)

1964
KAUZ in Wichita Falls, TX broadcast the first live television pictures of an F5 tornado moving through the city.
Seven people were killed, 111 injured and 225 homes were destroyed during the twisters 5 to 6 mile path.
Extensive damage was done at Sheppard Air Force Base where three tanker planes, a hanger, the power plant, and the chapel were all destroyed.
Damage estimates exceeded $15 million dollars.
Severe thunderstorms produced hail up to 3 inches in diameter and at least eight other tornadoes across central and southern Oklahoma on this same day.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1974
A "Super-Outbreak" of tornadoes ravaged the Midwest and the eastern U.S. Severe weather erupted early in the afternoon and continued through the next day.
Severe thunderstorms spawned 148 tornadoes from Alabama to Michigan, most of which occurred between 1 PM (CST) on the 3rd and 1 AM on the 4th.
The tornadoes killed 315 persons, injured 5300 others, and caused 600 million dollars damage. Alabama, Kentucky and Ohio were especially hard hit in the tornado outbreak.
One tornado destroyed half of the town of Xenia OH killing 34 persons. Another tornado, near the town of Stamping Ground, KY produced a path of destruction a record five miles in width.
A tornado raced through Guin, AL at a speed of 75 mph. Two powerful tornadoes roared across northern Alabama during the early evening hours, killing fifty persons and injuring 500 others.
Some rescue vehicles responding to the first tornado were struck by the second.
(David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel) (Storm Data) (Tom Grazulis)(Ref. Wilson - Additional Information Listed On This Link)

1975
A severe early spring storm over the northeastern U.S. began on this date and blasted the area for the next three days.
Wind gusts reached 87 mph at West Harpswell, ME and Boston, MA recorded its lowest April pressure on record with 28.68 inches of mercury.
Hurricane force winds along the coast produced tides 2 to 4 feet above normal flooding.
Winds atop Mount Washington, NH gusted to 140 mph.
1 to 4 feet of snow fell from western New York to northern Maine with the higher elevations receiving the most.
Sioux City, IA plunged to -2°; their coldest April temperature on record.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1981
An early spring snowstorm hit parts of the Rockies dumping 6 to 12 inches of snow in the foothills of northeastern Colorado and 4 to 8 inches north of Denver.
Only 2 inches fell at Stapleton Airport in Denver.
St. Louis, MO had a wind gust of 83 mph; their highest reported gust on record.
That same day, a tornado causing F4 damage was responsible for 32 injuries and $25 million dollars damage in Madison County, Illinois.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
A storm in the southeastern U.S. produced a trace of snow at Mobile AL, one inch at Jackson MS, and two inches at Meridian MS, the latest snow of record for those three locations.
Birmingham AL received seven inches of snow, and up to nine inches was reported in northeast Alabama.
(Sandra and TI Richard Sanders - 1987) (The National Weather Summary)
A large, slow moving low pressure system produced very heavy snows over the Appalachian Region lasting through April 5th.
60 inches fell at Newfound Gap in western North Carolina, the largest single storm snowfall in the state's history.
Up to 36 inches was reported in southeastern Kentucky.
The total of 25 inches at Charleston, WV easily surpassed its previous record for the entire month of April of 5.9 inches.
The 20.6 inch total at Akron, OH established an all-time record for that location.
Interstate 40 was closed by snow for the first time since it was opened in 1967.
Lightning and thunder accompanied the snow in some areas while a trace fell as far south as Mobile.
This was the first snow ever reported in the month of April in Mobile since records began in 1872.
The storm became known unofficially as the "Dogwood Snowstorm" as many trees had fully bloomed.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1988
A wind gust to 114 mph was clocked at Ann Arbor MI during a thunderstorm containing tornadoes.
Thunderstorms in Michigan and Indiana spawned five tornadoes that Easter Sunday, and also produced golf ball size hail.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989
Thunderstorms produced severe weather from the Southern Plains to the Southern and central Appalachians.
The thunderstorms spawned twenty tornadoes, including one, which caused eight million dollars damage at Fort Branch IN.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1990
Rain and snow prevailed in the northeastern U.S., with snow reported in New York State.
Boston MA was soaked with 2.91 inches of rain during the day and night, and up to half a foot of snow blanketed the hills of Steuben County NY that Tuesday night.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1996
Marquette, MI recorded 12.6 inches of snow on this day to raise its seasonal snowfall to 250.8 inches, the city's snowiest winter ever until 1997.
The old record was 243.8 inches set back in 1981-82. The snowfall for the month now stood at 43.4 inches, the snowiest April on record for the city as well.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2005
Heavy snow from a slow moving cut off low began to wind down over Ohio, northwestern Pennsylvania, and western New York.
Two day snowfall totals included 29 inches at Colt Station, PA, 26.5 inches at Stockton, NY, 24.8 inches at Thompson, OH, and 18 inches at Erie, PA.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2008
Little Rock, Arkansas:
A tornado hits parts of Little Rock and its suburbs passing directly over the National Weather Service office.
The tornado, rated an EF-1, knocks down numerous trees and power lines and destroyed homes in Leawood and Cammack Village.
A total of six tornadoes rake central Arkansas this day, fortunately no one died from the storms.(Ref. WxDoctor)

1804
A group of tornadoes slashed a 120 mile path across seven counties in Georgia and one county in South Carolina killing 11 people near Augusta, GA.
The tornado's path through heavy timber was still visible some 71 years later as noted in an Army Signal Corps survey.
(David Ludlum)(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1863
Ten inch snow fell from 1700 hours on the third until 1200 hours on the fourth at Naval Observatory in Washington, DC.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)

1893
The first week of April back in 1893, was one of the warmest weeks ever during April at Oklahoma City, OK.
From the 3rd through the 7th, the high temperature averaged an incredible 94°.
In fact, each of the daily high temperatures over that five day period remains a record more than 100 years later.
Despite the week of heat, April 1893 does not rank as one of the top ten warmest Aprils on record in Oklahoma City.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1933
Pigeon River Bridge, MN reported 28 inches of snow, which established the state 24-hour snowfall record. (4th-5th)
(The Weather Channel)

1945
Snow began falling during the morning on the 3rd and continued through the evening on this date.
Considerable glazing and wire trouble was reported to the south of La Crosse, WI, Viroqua, WI and as far south as Decorah, IA.
Grand Meadow, MN recorded 17" of snow while Winona, MN checked in with 10" and La Crosse, WI had 7" of snow.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1955
A severe three-day spring snowstorm came to an end over north-central Wyoming and south-central Montana.
Sheridan, WY had near blizzard conditions for 43 hours and recorded 22.7 inches of snow in 24 hours on the 3rd to set a new 24 hour snowfall record.
Billings, MT set their all-time record greatest daily snowfall with 23.7 inches and 39 inches of snow in two days. The water equivalent was four inches.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1966
One of the strongest tornadoes in Florida's history moved in from the Gulf of Mexico and ripped through Pinellas, Hillsborough, Polk, and Osceola Counties.
Damage was very severe in the towns of Gibsonia and Galloway in Polk County. 11 people were killed and 350 were injured. The tornado was classified as F4.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1973
Sandia Crest NM reported a snow depth of 95 inches, a record for the state of New Mexico.
(The Weather Channel)

1974
The worst tornado outbreak of the 20th century known as the infamous "Super-Outbreak" ended early on this date.
Severe thunderstorms spawned 148 tornadoes in 13 U.S. States, including Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia,
and New York; and the Canadian province of Ontario.
The combined path length of all tornadoes during this period was approximately 2,500 miles with as many as 335 fatalities, 5,484 injuries, and an estimated $600+ million loss (in 1974 dollars).
Of the 148 tornadoes, at least 118 had paths of a mile or more.
The average path was 18.7 miles. Ten states were declared federal disaster areas.
The intensity of the 148 tornadoes:
F5 – 6, F4 – 24, F3 – 34, F2 – 32, F1 – 33, F0 – 19
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1975
A severe early spring storm continued over the northeastern U.S. began on this date and blasted the area for three days.
Wind gusts reached 87 mph at West Harpswell, ME and Boston, MA recorded its lowest April pressure on record with 28.68 inches of mercury.
1 to 4 feet of snow fell from western New York to northern Maine with the higher elevations receiving the most.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1977
Near New Hope, Georgia): A Southern Airways DC-9 jet crashed after being struck by large hail.
The hail and associated heavy precipitation caused the engines to flame out.
Seventy people (including eight on the ground) died; 21 people (including the flight attendants) survived.
(Ref. Hail Events by Michael Mogil)
A massive F5 tornado moved across northern Birmingham, AL, killing 22 people and injuring 130.
The tornado cut a 15-mile path from just northwest of Birmingham to the town of Tarrant.
167 homes were destroyed, primarily in the Smithfield Estates subdivision. Daniel Payne College sustained heavy damage.
At one point, the tornado was three-quarters of a mile wide.
The tornado crossed busy I-65, tossing cars and trucks like they were toys.
Other tornadoes killed 1 other person in Alabama and 1 person in Georgia that day.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1983
Colorado was in the midst of a three-day winter storm.
The snowstorm left 11 inches of snow on the ground at Liberal, KS and 14 inches at Trousdale, KS.
The storm was in its second day and by the time it was all over on the 5th, 21 inches of new snow was recorded at Fort Collins.
Buckhorn Mountain, located west of Fort Collins, received 64 inches of snow.
(Storm Data)
Wasatch Mountains, Utah on the 4th and 5th :
On April 4th and into 5th Severe canyon wind (gusts of 60-80 mph (96-138 km/h) with peak of 104 mph overturns 12 flatbed railroad cars with loaded trailers on the Union Pacific line near Farmington.

1987
Rains of five to eight inches drenched eastern New York State, and ten persons were killed in a bridge collapse over Schoharie Creek.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988
Sunny and warm weather prevailed across the nation. Fort Smith AR reported a record high of 90 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary)

1989
Thunderstorms produced severe weather from the Lower Mississippi Valley to the Southern Appalachians.
The thunderstorms spawned seventeen tornadoes, including one, which caused two million dollars damage at Baldwin, AL.
Thunderstorm winds gusted to 90 mph at Bremen GA.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1990
A deep low-pressure system in northern New York State brought heavy snow to parts of western and central New York during the day.
The snowfall total of 5.8 inches at Buffalo was a record for the date, and 9.5 inches was reported at Rochester.
Snowfall totals ranged up to 11 inches at Warsaw.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1995
A strong arctic cold front moved south through the upper Midwest bringing dramatic temperature drops.
In Gays Mills, WI, the temperature fell from 65 °F to 12 °F. In Sparta, WI, the temperature fell from 6 °F to 9 °F.
In Cresco, IA, the temperature fell from 64 °F to 7 °F. In Waukon, IA, the temperature fell from 66 °F to 10 °F.
In Caledonia, MN, the temperature fell from 64 °F to 8 °F. In Grand Meadow, MN, the temperature fell from 62 °F to 1 °F.
This was the greatest diurnal temperature change at all six locations.
In addition, both Grand Meadow, MN with 1 °F and Alma, WI with 7 °F had their coldest April temperature on record.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1999
On a golf course in Culpeper County, around 4 pm, 37 year old man was struck and killed under a tree.
The rest of his group had already safely retreated to the club house when the incident occurred. (Ref. Lightning - Virginia Weather History)

2006
Lightning struck a brother and his sister as they were lowering the blinds on the guest house on Tutuila (American Samoa).
His sister was killed, her brother survived.
(Weather Guide Calendar with Phenomenal Weather Events 2007 Accord Publishing, USA)

APRIL
5TH

1815
The Tambora Volcano in Java erupted.
Ash from the eruption would circle the globe, blocking sunlight and leading to the unusually cold summer in 1816.
On 6/6/1816, snow would fall as far south of Connecticut with some places in New England picking up 10 inches.
On July 4th, the temperature at Savannah GA plunged to 46°.
Eastern North America and Europe had freezing nighttime temperatures in August.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1849
Three inches of snow at Columbia, SC fell two weeks later than any previous record late freeze.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1874
The temperature at Boston, MA plunged to 11° to establish the April low temperature record for that city.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1882
A tornado moved north-northeast from four miles east of Iuka, KS, passing through the town of Stafford.
Many homes were unroofed or blown down in Stafford.
Two mills were destroyed and a 700 pound millstone was moved 150 feet.
One person was killed and 14 injured.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1920
Fort Wayne, IN reported their coldest April high temperature on record of 28°.
Columbia, MO and Quincy, IL recorded their coldest April low temperatures on record of 14° and 15° respectively.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1936
446 people were killed in the second deadliest tornado outbreak ever in U.S. 17 twisters struck from Mississippi to the Carolinas.
An F5 tornado cut a path 400 yards wide through the residential section of Tupelo, MS. 216 people were killed and 700 were injured.
The tornado had a 15 mile long path and did $3 million dollars in damage.
One of the survivors in Tupelo was a baby of an economically strapped family who had an infant they'd recently named ELVIS AARON PRESLEY.
Luckily, Elvis had left the building.
Gainesville, GA had 203 fatalities and 934 injuries from a tornado that occurred early the following morning.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1945
The temperature at Eagles Nest NM plunged to 45 degrees below zero to establish an April record for the United States.
(Sandra and Richard Sanders - 1987)

1955
The Northern Rockies and the Northern High Plains were in the midst of a four-day storm, which produced 52 inches of snow at Lead, located in the Black Hills of western South Dakota.
Billings, MT reported their all-time record snow depth at 33 inches.
(David Ludlum)

1956
Operators at Texas A&M turned on their weather radar after a tornado watch was issued.
Looking for the characteristic hook echo, the local police and radio stations were warned when one was indicated on radar moving toward the Bryan/College Station area.
It was the first tornado warning based on radar indications.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1972
A tornado, 500 yards wide at times, touched down at a marina on the Oregon side of the Columbia River, and then tore through Vancouver WA.
The tornado Killed six persons, injuring 300 others, and causing more than five million dollars damage.
It was the deadliest tornado of the year and the worst of record for Washington.
(The Weather Channel)

1978
Three tornadoes touched down in southwestern Oklahoma.
The strongest began southwest of Pumpkin Center, and moved northeast for 10 miles, damaging or destroying 21 homes, five mobile homes, and 21 barns and outbuildings.
The storm was accompanied by hail up to three inches in diameter.
The only injury was to a boy, who was slightly injured, when a hailstone hit him on the head.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1982
An unprecedented April storm was starting to take shape that would bring the northeastern U.S. a blizzard on the 6th and 7th.
One to two feet of snow would fall across Massachusetts and Connecticut, and up to 26 inches in Maine by the 7th.
(Storm Data)
In NJ it was a nice sunny day on Monday April 5th 1982 and the snow did not start until about 0500 on Tuesday April 6th 1982.
It was a record low of 18° on both April 7th and 8th of 1982 in NJ.
(Joe Ogiba)

1983
This event is listed by the Utah NWS as occurring on April 4th-5th, 1983.
A severe canyon wind in the Wasatch Mountains of Utah produced wind gusts 60 to 80 mph with a peak gust of 104 mph.
These winds overturned 12 flatbed railroad cars with loaded trailers on the Union Pacific line near Farmington.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
A storm produced unprecedented April snows in the central Appalachians.
Mount Mitchell NC received 35 inches of snow, and up to 60 inches (six feet) of snow was reported in the mountains along the border of North Carolina and Tennessee.
The total of 25 inches at Charleston WV easily surpassed their previous record for the entire month of April of 5.9 inches.
The 20.6 inch total at Akron OH established an all-time record for that location.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)
After days of heavy rain, a New York State Thruway bridge collapsed over Schoharie Creek in upstate New York, west of Amsterdam, killing 10 people.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1988
Thirty-nine cities across the eastern half of the country reported record high temperatures for the date, including Saint Louis MO with a reading of 91 degrees.
Laredo TX was the hot spot in the nation with an afternoon high of 100 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary)
Severe thunderstorms moved across the northern 2/3 of Illinois.
Baseball size hail at Galesburg caused $10 million dollars damage to 700 cars and many homes. In East St. Louis, MO a wind gust of 77 mph and golf ball-size hail was reported.
Winds at the airport in Bloomington, IL gusted to 75 mph, causing the control tower to be evacuated.
Other strong winds included 70 mph at Taylorville, IL and 69 mph at Decatur, IL. Extensive damage was reported due to the storms.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1989
Unseasonably hot weather prevailed in the southwestern U.S.
Afternoon highs of 100 degrees at Santa Maria CA and 105 degrees in Downtown Los Angeles established records for the month of April.
(The National Weather Summary)

1990
Afternoon and evening thunderstorms developing along a cold front produced severe weather in southern Oklahoma, southern Arkansas, and north central and northeastern Texas.
Thunderstorms spawned a dozen tornadoes in Texas, including one at Fort Worth, which caused a million dollars damage.
There were nearly one hundred reports of large hail and damaging winds.
Thunderstorms in Texas produced hail three and a half inches in diameter west of Fort Worth, and produced wind gusts to 80 mph at Cross Plains.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1995
Spring cold set 34 records in the NE and Great Lakes: Chicago 15°, Toledo 12°, Madison 14°, Boston 15°, Caribou 1° is coldest ever so late in season.

1996
A small area of west-central Texas was buried under record late season snows.
Abilene recorded 9.3 inches in 24 hours for its greatest 24 hour snowfall ever.
Sweetwater measured 18 inches. The 2 inches at Midland was its greatest April snowfall on record.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1997
Heavy rains and melting snows pushed rivers in the Dakotas and Minnesota over their banks and left hundreds of people homeless while just to the west,
a blizzard dumped as much as 10 inches of snow in the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Bismarck, ND reported 17.3 inches to raise its seasonal snowfall to 101.4 inches; the city's snowiest winter on record.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2001
An unusually strong dust devil formed in Suffolk County, NY on Long Island and moved across the Brookhaven Calabro Airport at Shirley, NY.
The vortex lifted a Piper Cherokee Airplane 25 feet in the air and threw it. The 75 foot column of whirling dust formed under clear skies along a sea breeze front.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2003
A single supercell thunderstorm dumped an enormous amount of large hail, up to 4 inches in diameter, across North Texas.
A swath of damage extended for nearly 200 miles from Young to Hopkins Counties.
This ranks as one of the costliest storms on record to hit North Texas with damage estimated at $885 million dollars.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

APRIL
6TH

1889
Although this cyclone on April 6th and 7th was not likely to have been a true hurricane, it showed all the telltale signs to those in Virginia Beach at the time.
Winds were blowing at a "hurricane rate" from the north-northwest. Gusts exceeded 100 mph at the Signal Service station in Cape Henry.
The Cape Charles lighthouse saw its south end protection wall undermined as it was pounded by high waves.
Richmond experienced its worst storm of the winter and spring. Heavy winds, rain, sleet, and snow pelted the state capital.
Charlottesville's snow storm led to downed wires and delayed rail traffic.
Petersburg experienced a horrible blizzard, as trees were uprooted, and houses "rocked" with the wind.
Winchester measured fourteen inches of snowfall while at its height, with thunder startling their citizens.
Telegraph wires were strewn across the countryside.
In Washington, DC rain turned to snow by 8:30 a.m. on the 7th. By 10:30, lightning and thunder were observed, leaving residents in awe.
The Weather Bureau could not explain the occurrence of snow and thunder, but mentioned in would be known within a "few years".
The blizzard caused thousands of dollars in damage, as telegraph and telephone lines were downed in great numbers.
The White House had its communications cut off by the storm between 1 and 2 p.m., as the weight of the wet snow downed area lines.
A tornado actually touched down amidst the chaos along the waterfront, as five telegraph poles were snapped at the base. (Ref. Terrible Spring Storm)

1898
The minimum temperature for the date is 26°F. in Washington, DC.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)
Nor'easter: Hampton Roads recorded 75 mph sustained wind from the north and Cape Henry at 105 mph.
Tides at Norfolk reached 8.37 feet above Mean Low Water, which is over 4 feet above flood stage level.
The Norfolk Landmark, April 7, 1889:"...The storm was equal of the famous one of August 18, 1879.
Water Street from end to end was a river of raging water; both ends of Main Street were covered with water,
West Main Street as high as Jackson. Jackson Street was flooded clean up to Main Street.
The water was a foot at the station-house door, and all the lower Washington area, was far under water."(Ref. Virginia Weather History)

1927
On this date through the 7th, in Oklahoma, heavy rain added to already high stream flows, producing a devastating flood along the Arkansas River, below the mouth of the Neosho River.
The flooding lasted through the 19th, inundating 165,000 acres of land, with losses totaling $4 million (1927) dollars.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1936
A tornado outbreak in the Deep South resulted in a total of 446 deaths and eighteen million dollars damage. It was a "Tale of Two Cities".
During the evening of the 5th a tornado hit Tupelo MS killing 216 persons, injuring 700 others, and causing three million dollars damage.
The next morning the paths of two tornadoes met about 8:30 AM and cut a swath four blocks wide through Gainesville GA killing 203 persons,
injuring 934, and causing thirteen million dollars damage.
Eight to ten feet of debris filled the streets following the storm. At least 70 persons died in the Cooper Pants Factory, the greatest tornado toll of record for a single building.
(David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)

1973
On this date through the 8th, a major spring snowstorm dumped 11.6 inches of snow across Denver, CO.
Most of the heavy wet snow of 10.1 inches fell on the 7th when temperatures remained in the 20s.
The low temperature of 5° on the 8th was a new record low for the date and the lowest for so late in the season.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1976
The Black Hills of South Dakota experienced the fury of the thunderstorm and a bit of an unusual snow.
During the afternoon hail piled up to 3" deep in Hot Springs, SD while elevations above 5,000 feet in the Hills received over an inch of snow from the storm.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1982
A huge blizzard on the 6th and 7th dumped one to two feet of snow across parts of Pennsylvania, New York and New England.
Many areas reported thunder and lightning with heavy snow. Winds gusted in some places to 80 mph.
For many places, it was their worst April snowstorm on record. The Yankees home opener with the Texas Rangers was canceled.
The New York Mets could not make their opening game in Philadelphia because the bus was snowed in.
Behind the storm in the upper Midwest, unseasonably cold temperatures and snow prevailed.
The low temperature was 5° at Rochester, MN and 7° at LaCrosse, WI (tied on 4/6/1946) are the coldest April readings for both locations.
Other record low April temperatures set this day: Preston, MN: -8°, Theilman, MN: 0°, Caledonia, MN: 2°),
Fayette, IA: -2°, Cresco, IA: -1°, Charles City, IA: 3°, Decorah, IA: 5°, Osage, IA: 6°, Guttenberg, IA: 7°, Viroqua, WI: -8°, Blair, WI: -4°, Sparta, WI: -1°,
Richland Center, WI: 0°, Genoa, WI: 6°, Lancaster, WI: 6°, Trempealeau, WI: 8°.
Snowfall totals included: Prairie du Chien, WI: 8 inches, Fayette, IA: 6 inches, and Richland Center, WI 6 inches.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)Ref. (NWS Ranking for Storms between 1956 and 2011) This is the 34th Worst Snowstorm

1983
The temperature at Denver CO dipped to a record cold seven degrees above zero.
(The Weather Channel)

1987
Rain and melting snow caused flooding from New England to Ohio. Flooding in the Merrimack Valley of Massachusetts was the worst in fifty years, causing forty-two million dollars damage.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988
A powerful storm produced wind gusts to 75 mph around Chicago IL, and wind gusts to 92 mph at Goshen IN. The high winds created twenty-five foot waves on Lake Michigan.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1989
Unseasonably hot weather prevailed in California. Afternoon highs of 91 degrees in Downtown San Francisco, 93 degrees at San Jose,
98 degrees at San Diego, 103 degrees at Santa Maria, 104 degrees at Riverside, and 106 degrees in Downtown Los Angeles established records for the month of April.
(The National Weather Summary)

1990
Wet snowstorm drops 1 to 4 inches north and west of DC and one foot in Shenandoah and West Virginia mountains.
Snow developed in the northeastern U.S. for the second time in the month.
In Virginia, a heavy wet snow blanketed northern and central sections of the Shenandoah Valley, and eastern foothills, with up to 12 inches reported around Harrisonburg.
Heavy snow also blanketed the high elevations of West Virginia, with 10 inches reported at Snowshoe.
One to four inches fell north and west of Washington, D.C. Dulles Airport received a record daily and April snowfall total of 2.7 inches.
An inch of snow at Syracuse NY raised their total for the winter season to a record-tying 161.3 inches.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1997
A three day blizzard in parts of central and eastern Montana ended on this date.
Melville, MT picked up 18 inches of snow while Ashland, MT reported 15 inches. Drifts up to six feet were reported in Powder River County.
50,000 head of cattle and sheep were lost in southeastern Montana.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2003
Jackson, Mississippi:
The city's storm sewers are tested as a record daily rainfall of 7.38 inches falls.(Ref. WxDoctor)

2007
Cleveland, Ohio on the 6th to the 9th:
The opening-season series between the Indians and Minnesota Twins is wiped out by a snowstorm and a cold snap.
The Indians lead 4-0 when their home opener Friday (the 6th) was called off by umpires because of heavy snow.
The grounds crew who tried to make the field playable with backpack blowers and brooms, spent more time on the field than the players during nearly three hours of stoppages.
About a foot of snow remained on the field Monday afternoon (the 9th).(Ref. WxDoctor)

1857
A late season freeze brought snow to every state in the Union.
Even as far south as Houston TX the mercury plunged to 21 degrees.
(David Ludlum)

1929
EARLY HEAT WAVE- The maximum temperature for the date is 94°F. in Washington, DC.
Record heat prevailed across New England. Hartford CT reported an afternoon high of 90 degrees.
(David Ludlum)

1926
Lightning started a disastrous oil fire at San Luis Obispo, CA with lasted for five days, spreading over 900 acres, and burned nearly six million barrels of oil.
Flames reached 1000 feet and the fire temperature was estimated at 2,500 degrees. The fire spawned thousands of whirlwinds with hundreds the size of small tornadoes.
One vortex traveled one mile to the east-northeast of the blaze, destroying a small farm house and killing two people. Damage totaled $15 million dollars.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1929
The Mid-Atlantic and northeast sweltered during an unusual early spring heat wave.
Hartford, CT set a record high with 90° while Washington, D.C. hit 94°.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1935
Amarillo TX reported dust-obscuring visibility for twenty hours. Blowing dust was reported twenty-seven of thirty days in the month.
On several days the visibility was reduced to near zero by the dust.
(The Weather Channel)

1948
Six tornadoes ripped through Northern Illinois and Indiana; mainly across the southern and eastern suburbs of Chicago.
The hardest hit was from a tornado that moved east from near Manteno, IL to near Hebron, IN.
This storm left four people dead; three in Grant Park, IL and one near Hebron, IN with 67 injuries and over a million dollars damage.
Other strong tornadoes in the area moved from near Coal City, IL to Braidwood, IL and from Calumet City, IL into Indiana.
Further south, two strong tornadoes occurred across the northern parts of Champaign and Vermilion Counties in Illinois.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1959
On this date through the 12th, 20 to 30 inches of snow fell in the northern Colorado Mountains.
While over the Plains blizzard conditions closed schools and blocked highways.
The second big storm in two weeks dumped 16.4 inches in Denver with 11.6 inches of that falling on the 8th.
Temperatures dipped to 7° on the 7th and the 12th with low temperature records set on the 9th, 10th and 12th.
Four deaths were reported; three from shoveling snow.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1973
A late season snowstorm left deep snow over much of the southern Plains.
While central Oklahoma received only a trace, parts of northwest Oklahoma were buried under 10 inches of wet snow.
The greatest snowfall report was from Fargo, in Ellis County, where 14 inches of snow was measured.
People in Fargo were still better off than many residents of the Texas and Oklahoma Panhandles, where near blizzard conditions occurred.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1980
Severe thunderstorms spawned tornadoes that ripped through central Arkansas.
The severe thunderstorms also produce high winds and baseball size hail.
Five counties were declared disaster areas by President Carter.
A tornado causing F3 damage also affected St. Louis and St. Charles counties in Missouri producing $2.5 million dollars in damage.
(The Weather Channel)

1982
The minimum temperature for the date is 24°F. in Washington, DC.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)
Fort Wayne, IN recorded their all-time coldest April temperature with 7°.
Platteville, WI also recorded their coldest April temperature on record as they dropped to 3°.
Goshen, IN plunged to 1°.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
International Falls MN, with record warm afternoon high of 71 degrees, was warmer than Miami FL, where the high was a record cool 66 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary)

1988
High winds in the Middle Atlantic Coast Region gusted to 172 mph atop Grandfather Mountain NC.
Twenty-nine cities in the southwest and north central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date, including Yankton SD with a reading of 91 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989
Twenty-seven cities in the southwestern U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date.
A maximum temperature of 92 degrees in Downtown San Francisco and 104 degrees at Phoenix AZ established records for April. Highs of 78 degrees at Ely NV
and 93 degrees at San Jose CA equaled April records.
(The National Weather Summary)

1990
Low pressure brought strong winds to the Alaska Peninsula and the Aleutian Islands. Winds gusted to 68 mph at Port Heiden two days in a row.
Unseasonably warm weather prevailed across central Alaska. Yakutat reported a record high of 54 degrees.
Unseasonably cold weather prevailed over central sections of the Lower forty-eight states.
A dozen cities from Kansas to Indiana and Alabama reported record low temperatures for the date.
Evansville IN equaled their record for April with a morning low of 23 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
Atlantic City, NJ picked up 3.3 inches of snow, the most ever for any day in April since records were started.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1997
Billings, MT recorded 6.8 inches of snow on this day to raise its seasonal snowfall to 95.5 inches to set a new seasonal snowfall record for the city.
The previous snowfall record was 93.8 inches set in the 1954-55 season.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2003
Upper Midwest States:
An unwelcome Spring snowstorm drops over a foot of snow in parts of South Dakota, Nebraska and southern Minnesota.
When it is over, Albert Lea, Minnesota, receives 14 inches, and Greeley, Nebraska, has 12 inches. Sioux Falls, South Dakota collects 7 inches. (Ref. WxDoctor)
Snow spoiled the home openers for the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and Cleveland Indians as a spring snowstorm brought a swath of snow from the Midwest to the Northeast.
Five to eight inches of snow fell in New York City. Not used to snow, the Yankees had to call neighboring football team New York Giants to borrow 200 snow shovels to help remove snow from underneath the seats.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2010
The record heat that affected the region on April 6-7 included 93°F at the Washington-Dulles Airport on April 6, the earliest 90-degree reading of record.
On April 7, Newark, New Jersey, shattered its daily record by seven degrees when the maximum temperature rose to 92°F.
The Northeast ended up with its second warmest April in 116 years.
(Ref. Weatherwise U.S. Weather Highlights of 2010 page 6 )

1918
A big spring snowstorm buried the Potomac Highlands of West Virginia with 34 inches of snow at Wardensville, 30 inches at Moorefield, and 29 inches at Romney.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1919
A tornado swarm in northern Texas resulted in the deaths of 64 persons.
(David Ludlum)

1929
EARLY HEAT WAVE-The maximum temperature for the date is 93°F. in Washington, DC.
Heat wave set three records in a row 92°, 94°, 93° on the 6th-8th in Washington, DC.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)

1938
Snow began to fall over central Oklahoma during the previous evening and continued to this day.
In Oklahoma City, several snowfall records for the month soon fell to the storm, including the record for most total snowfall during the month of April.
The Oklahoma City snowfall totals of 0.8 inches on the 7th, and 3.3 inches on the 8th, remain daily records. In fact, the 3.3 inch snowfall on the 8th is the most ever to fall on any single April day.
The 4.1 inch total for the month continues as the greatest April monthly snowfall total.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1952
A huge ice jam broke up on the Missouri River in North Dakota, resulting in rapid rises of up to 8 feet downstream.
The river flow jumped from 75,000 cubic feet per second to over 500,000 cubic feet per second.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1956
After daytime highs in the 60s, snow along with thunder and lightning occurred across southwest Kansas.
Over 5 inches of snow fell at Dodge City with 4 inches at Garden City.
Winds gusted to over 70 mph in the Texas panhandle with zero visibility and blowing dust. A strong tornado hit near Enid, OK.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1958
The global record for most rainfall in 48 hours was set at Aurere, La Reunion Island beginning on this date from a tropical cyclone when 97.1 inches fell.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1972
The minimum temperature for the date is 29 °F. in Washington, DC tied with 1982.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)
Richmond, VA had a high temperature for the day of 37°F matching the coldest April day on record (records since 1897).
The other date of 37 °F was April 3, 1915.
(Ref. Richmond Weather Records - KRIC)

1973
A severe storm brought high winds and heavy snow to Iowa. Belle Plain received 20 inches of snow, and 19 inches blanketed Dubuque,
record totals for both locations for so late in the season.
Snow drifts up to sixteen feet high closed highways in Iowa
(David Ludlum)

1987
A cold front crossing the Northern Plateau and the Northern Rocky Mountain
Region produced high winds in northeastern Wyoming. Winds gusting to 69 mph at
Sheridan WY downed power lines and caused some property damage.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988
Strong northerly winds ushered cold air into the north central U.S. The strong winds, gusting to 60 mph at Rapid City SD and Williston ND,
reduced visibilities in blowing dust over the Dakotas.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989
Two-dozen cities in the southwestern U.S. reported new record high temperatures for the date.
Phoenix AZ equaled their record for April of 104 degrees established just the previous day.
(The National Weather Summary)

1990
Twenty-two cities reported record low temperatures for the date as readings dipped into the 20s and 30s across much of the eastern U.S.
Freezing temperatures severely damaged peach and apple orchards in West Virginia,
where prolonged mild weather since January had caused an early blooming of spring vegetation.
State and Federal agencies estimated a 50 percent loss in production of peaches and "Delicious Red Apples".
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1994
7 to 9 inches of rain fell over a 3-day period causing the Missouri River at Boonville, MO to rise 14 feet and at Hermann, MO to rise 19 feet.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1996
The first of two late season heavy snowfalls in only three days over the Northeast dumped 12 inches of snow at Slide Mountain, NY,
10.2 inches, at Ashburnham, MA, and 7 inches at Falmouth, Massachusetts.
The 6.1 inches at Binghamton, NY brought its seasonal snowfall total to 131.8 inches; their snowiest winter ever.
Incredible flooding continued on the Minnesota River in Minnesota.
Thousands of people were driven from their homes by the flooding, which was complicated by blizzard conditions and record cold.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1997
Miles City, MT only reached 5° tying their coldest April reading ever with 4/15/1986. They did not reach 30° from the 5th through the 10th.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1998
A major F5 tornado struck western Jefferson county Alabama leveling the communities of Oak Grove, Rock Creek, Edgewater, McDonald's Chapel, Sylvan Springs and Pratt City.
The tornado lifted just two miles from downtown Birmingham. The twister had a track of 20 miles with the damage path averaging between ½ and ¾ of a mile in width.
34 people were killed, 221 injured and 1,000 homes were destroyed.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)
An F2 tornado destroyed a mobile home near Coal City, Alabama.
The clothes dryer was found 250 yards from the home site-with a 3 year old girl inside it.
Evidently her parents had put her in it hoping she would survive (she did).
Unfortunately the parents were killed by the tornado.
(Ref. Weather Guide Calendar with Phenomenal Weather Events 2012 Accord Pub. 2011, USA)

1999
A windstorm caused $20 million dollars in damage along the front range from Fort Collins, CO south to Pueblo, CO and to the east over the Plains.
This storm was equal to the costliest windstorm on record occurring on 1/17/1982 at Boulder, CO.
In the Denver area, there was damage to homes including roofs, broken fences, awnings, doors and windows.
Multiple accidents resulted including several tractor-trailers blown on their sides.
Power lines were downed causing a few small grass fires.
The highest wind gusts reached 112 mph atop the Niwot Ridge near the Continental Divide west of Boulder, 102 mph at Wondervu, 100 mph at NCAR in Boulder.
Winds of 98 mph were recorded at the National Wind Technology Center near Broomfield, 96 mph on Rocky Flats, 92 mph at the Jefferson County Airport.
Several tornadoes touched down across central Illinois, as a complex of severe thunderstorms moved across the region.
In Hancock County, the town of Hamilton had significant damage, with 144 homes destroyed or damaged by a tornado of F3 strength.
Two radio and TV towers were also destroyed. Damages totaled to about $10 million.
In far southeast Cass County, one person was killed in Ashland, when a tornado hit a trailer park.
Damage in Ashland was estimated around $1.8 million dollars. Further east, another tornado destroyed a trailer north of Cisco, killing a second person.
Five separate tornadoes caused F2 damage in Knox, Boone, Lewis, and Pike counties in Missouri and Pike County in Illinois. Seven people were injured.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2000
Heavy spring snows occurred across the Northeast.
The heaviest snow fell in eastern New York state and Vermont, where 10 to 20 inches fell.
It was the most intense spring storm in New England since the April Fools Day 1997 storm.
8 inches fell in Albany, NY, 13 inches in Summit, NY and 3 inches in New York City, where the Mets/Dodgers game was postponed.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2003
A severe thunderstorm with wind-driven hail up to 3 inches in diameter hit Brownsville, Texas, injuring 5 people and causing $50 million dollars in damage.
It was one of the most destructive hail events ever for the city.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2013
The 8th of the top 10 US weather events of 2013 was a Great Lakes winter storm and plains of April 8 through the 12th.
An enormous storm system tracked from the Great Basin to the Great Lakes, dropping over a foot of snow from Wyoming to Minnesota, including 28 inches at Rapid City, South Dakota-an all-time record.
This storm also hit the plains and South with large hail and tornadoes and spread severe thunderstorms from Texas into Pennsylvania.
(Ref.Weatherwise May/June 2013 page 15)

APRIL
9TH

1877
Oregon Inlet NC was widened three-quarters of a mile by a nor'easter.
(Sandra and TI Richard Sanders - 1987)

1889
The Norfolk Landmark reported that damage was heavier than the August 1879 hurricane because it lasted for a much longer duration- the water was 18 inches higher.
Rain, snow and sleet fell, totaling 3.2 inches. Drummonds Bridge was swept away (later replaced by the Ghent bridge).
Trees were uprooted and roofs were torn off. (Ref. Virginia Weather History)

1917
Boston, MA recorded 9.1 inches of snow, which would stand as the April record until 1982 when 13.2 inches fell.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1918
Rain continued for 93.5 hours. It started at 1750 on the 8th and rained until 1445 on the 12th for a total of 4.04 inches.

1947
A tornado struck Woodward, OK during the late evening killing 95 persons and causing six million dollars damage.
The tornado, one to two miles in width, and traveling at a speed of 68 mph, killed a total of 167 persons along its 221 mile path from Texas into Kansas, injured 980 others,
and caused nearly ten million dollars damage.
(David Ludlum)
A man looking out his front door was swept by a tornado from his home near Higgins, TX and carried two hundred feet over trees.
The bodies of two people, thought to be together at Glazier TX, were found three miles apart.
(David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)

1953
As the Weather Bureau started a new era of tracking storms by radar, the first radar image of a tornado was detected by radar equipment at the University of Illinois Airport at Champaign, IL.
Studies of the radar pictures from that day showed that a tornado of significant size and intensity could be detected.
Fresno, CA tied a record for their latest freezing temperature of 32°.
This record was tied on 4/7/1932 and 4/1/1975.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1958
A very wet 3 day period over La Reunion Island came to an end. Aurere received 97.20 inches between the 7th and 9th and between the 6th and 9th, they received a total of 123.32 inches.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1973
A severe late season snowstorm was in progress across Iowa, southeastern Minnesota, northern Illinois, and southern Wisconsin.
Wind gusts to 70 mph whipped the snow into 16 foot drifts in parts of Iowa.
10 to 20 inches of snow was common with 20 inches falling at Grand Meadow, MN and 19.4 inches piling up at Dubuque, IA. Richland Center,
WI reported 12 inches; their greatest 24-hour total. 10.3 inches fell at La Crosse, WI setting their greatest 24-hour total.
In northern Missouri it was the worst April blizzard on record.
Up to a foot of snow fell and wind gusts up to 60 mph piled drifts 6 to 10 feet high, leaving many motorists stranded. The storm claimed the life of one person.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)
(April 8th-10th) Montana’s worst April blizzard left up to 1 foot snow and drifts to 10 feet in NW half of state.
Winds to 60 mph blew vehicles off slick roads.
12,000 4-lb turkeys killed near Kirksville; drifts covering fences allowed cattle to walk to some major highways.
(Ref. Weather Guide Calendar with Phenomenal Weather Events 2011 Accord Pub. 2010, USA)

1977
A storm brought 15.5 inches of rain to Jolo, (Jolo is in the southern most tip of WV) in 30 hours.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)(The Weather Channel)

1982
The second of two late-season snowstorms affected much of Illinois over a 3-day period ending on this date.
The heaviest snowfall was reported from near Peoria southwest to Macomb, with up to 7 inches of snow.
Snowfall in excess of 5 inches was found in a wide area extending from Quincy east to Bloomington.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
International Falls MN reported their sixth straight record high for the date with a reading of 77 degrees.
A cold front ushering sharply colder weather into the north central U.S. produced wind gusts to 60 mph at Glasgow MT.
(The National Weather Summary)

1988
Residents of Sioux City IA awoke to find two inches of snow on the ground following a record high temperature of 88 degrees the previous afternoon.
(The National Weather Summary)

1989
Eighteen cities in the southwestern U.S. reported new record high temperatures for the date.
The afternoon high of 80 degrees at Eureka CA established a record for the month of April.
(The National Weather Summary)

1990
Thunderstorms developing ahead of a cold front produced severe weather from the Central High Plains to Arkansas and northern Texas.
Severe thunderstorms spawned five tornadoes, and there were seventy reports of large hail and damaging winds.
A tornado injured four persons at Ardmore OK, and thunderstorms produced wind gusts to 70 mph at Kellyville, Oklahoma and hail three inches in diameter at Halmstead KS.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1991
A large portion of the eastern U.S. was battered by severe thunderstorms with 503 severe weather events reported.
38 tornadoes touched down with the most significant one beginning its 18 mile path at Guthrie, KY.
This F2 tornado did over $500,000 dollars in damage. 3 inch diameter hailstones fell in Switzerland County, Indiana.
Two people were killed and 86 were injured from intense straight line thunderstorm winds exceeding 100 mph in West Virginia.
45 of the 55 counties in West Virginia reported wind damage. Total damage was estimated at $16 million dollars.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)
"The West Virginia Derecho of 1991" States Affected ....AR,TN, MS, AL, KY, IN, OH, WV, VA, MD, PA
(Ref. For More Information)

1994
A tornado touched down 3 ½ miles west-southwest of Kismet, KS and moved east northeast across highway 54 and east into Meade County.
It ended one mile southeast of Meade after doing extensive damage to Meade High School, power lines, and several business in southern
MeadeTownship. Damage estimates were at $1.3 million dollars.
In Seward County, a tornado struck a car and mobile home two miles east of Kismet, KS.
Two adults were in the car and one adult and five children were in the mobile home.
All eight sustained minor injuries and the mobile home was demolished.
The tornado had a maximum path width of 1,000 yards in Seward County, but expanded to a maximum width of a mile southeast of Plains in Meade County.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1930
A rare summer-like heat wave dominated much of the Midwest through the next day.
Rockford, IL set an April record with 93°. They followed that with a daily record of 88 °F on the 11th.
Chicago, IL set consecutive daily record highs of 90 °F on this date and the 11th. Further south, Columbia, MO and Quincy, IL set April high temperature records with 93 °F and 92 °F respectively.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1935
Severe dust storms across Iowa and Kansas closed schools and highways. Dodge
City KS experienced its worst dust storm of record, with dense dust reported from the morning of the 9th until after sunset on the 11th.
The sky was almost as dark as night at times during the daylight hours. The thick dust suspended traffic on highways and railroads and also suspended most business in town.
(The Weather Channel)

1963
A southwesterly flow ahead of a cold front produced early season heat across most of Texas.
Some notable readings included: Waco with 98 °F, Dallas hit 99 °F, Junction hit 100 °F and Laredo climbed to 104 °F.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1979
This day was known as "Terrible Tuesday" to the residents of Wichita Falls, TX as a tornado rated F4 on the Fujita scale ripped through the city.
A massive F4 tornado smashed into Wichita Falls TX killing 43 persons and causing 300 million dollars damage.
Another tornado struck Vernon TX killing eleven persons.
(David Ludlum) (Storm Data)(Ref. Additional Information)

1985
A late season cold snap in the east set record low April temperatures in the following cities:
Asheville, NC: 23°; Beckley, WV: 11°; Elkins, WV: 3°. April record lows were tied in Raleigh-Durham, NC with 23° and Roanoke, VA with 20°.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Blustery northwest winds prevailed across the Northern Plains Region. Winds in Wyoming gusted to 65 mph.
Temperatures in North Dakota were only in the 20s and 30s following afternoon highs in the 70s the previous day.
(The National Weather Summary)

1988
Unseasonably warm weather prevailed in the western U.S.
Eleven cities reported new record high temperatures for the date, including Bakersfield CA with a reading of 95 degrees, its warmest for so early in the season.
Pocatello ID warmed from a record low of 19 above to an afternoon high of 63 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary)

1989
Strong northerly winds, gusting to 53 mph at Albuquerque NM, ushered cold arctic air into the south central U.S.
The temperature at Albuquerque plunged from 82 degrees to 29 degrees overnight.
Thirty-three cities in the central U.S. reported record low temperatures for the date, including Goodland KS with a reading of 4 degrees above zero.
(The National Weather Summary)

1990
Thunderstorms produced severe weather from the Central Gulf Coast Region to western sections of the Carolinas during the afternoon and evening.
Evening thunderstorms over western South Carolina produced wind gusts to 98 mph that injured four persons at Holly Springs,
and wind gusts to 100 mph that injured one person and caused half a million dollars damage north of Dacusville.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1997
The minimum temperature for the date is 28°F. in Washington, DC.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)
A spring snowstorm caught many residents of parts of the Missouri Valley by surprise when 2 to 6 inches of snow fell from central to northeast Missouri while over a foot fell further north in parts of central Illinois.
The snow canceled many outdoor activities, including the St. Louis Cardinals baseball game.
It was the first time since April 17, 1983 that a Cardinals home game was snowed out.
Snowfall totals included 13.5 inches at Galesburg, IL 11.5 inches in Chillicothe, IL 11 inches in Minonk, IL and 6 inches at the Peoria, IL airport.
2.4 inches of snow fell at Billings, MT a record seventh consecutive day of at least an inch of snowfall; 23 inches of snow fell from the 4th to the 10th.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2001
A potent spring storm dumped heavy snow across the Colorado Rockies while a blizzard roared across the Plains east of Denver.
Snowfall amounts ranged up to 18 inches across Denver and the foothills.
Sustained winds 40 to 50 mph with gusts to 60 mph piled the snow into drifts 3 to 6 feet deep. Parts of I-25 and I-70 were closed.
Denver International Airport was shut down for the first time in its brief six year history.
220,000 customers were without power for a time; the worst in Xcel Energy’s history.
Repairs totaled $1.6 million dollars.
Snowfall totals included: 18 inches in southeast Aurora, 17 inches at Genesee, 16 inches at Centennial Airport,
Parker & Rollinsville, 14 inches at Broomfield & Intercanyon, 13 inches at Louisville, Coal Creek Canyon & Evergreen, 12 inches at Lakewood & Morrison,
11 inches at Ken Caryl, Thornton, Aspen Springs & Chief Hosa, 10 inches at the former Stapleton Airport.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)
A supercell thunderstorm traversed central Missouri, producing 8 tornadoes and copious amounts large hail up to baseball size.
An enormous amount of damage was done by the hail, mainly in the St. Louis Metropolitan area. Total damage was estimated at $1.4 billion dollars.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2003
Western North Carolina:
A late-season winter storm cover the higher elevations of the western North Carolina mountains with 22 inches of snow.
Asheville, NC picked up 4 inches of snow, while nearby Mount Pisgah picked up one foot.
(Ref. WxDoctor)

2005
A strong storm system produced blizzard conditions in areas to the east of Denver and south of I-76 and near blizzard conditions across the Denver metro area.
Long stretches of I-25, I-70 and I-76 were also closed due to extensive blowing and drifting snow.
Snow amounts ranged from 12 to 30 inches in and near the eastern foothills and over the Palmer Divide.
Drifts were 2 to 5 feet. Storm snowfall totals included: 31 inches near Conifer, 27.5 inches at Aspen Springs, 25.5 inches at Sedalia and Blackhawk,
25 inches near Bergen Park and near Genesee, 24.5 inches at Pine Junction and Roxborough Park, 24 inches southwest of Boulder, 23.5 inches at Ken Caryl,
23 inches atop Crow Hill, near Larkspur, Evergreen and Nederland, 22.5 inches at Aurora, 22 inches at Bennett, 21 inches at Eldora Ski area, 20 inches near Arapahoe Park,
Centennial, Littleton and south Denver and close to 10 inches in Denver.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2007
Fairbanks, Alaska:
Unseasonably warm temperatures cause Fairbanks to as the record a high of 56 °F which tied the record set in 1957.
Fairbanks' high exceeded that registered on this day in Atlanta, Georgia by 2 F degrees.(Ref. WxDoctor)

2016
April 10-12. Severe weather extended from Texas to Mississippi, but the greatest impacts took place in Texas, where hail sized from 2 to as much as 4.5 inches in diameter caused extensive property
damage in the Panhandle and northeastern and southern parts of the state. Economic costs of some $3.5 billion (according to the National Centers for Environmental Information, NCEI) made this the most expensive severe
weather episode of the year, and one of the most expensive ever in Texas.

APRIL 11TH

1790
A tornado in Frederick, Maryland flattened several mills.

1841
A big April snowstorm in the northeast dropped 12 inches at New York City, 24 inches in parts of New Jersey and 18 inches in parts of Massachusetts.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1896
Destructive thunderstorms swept across central Texas producing two killer tornadoes, both at night.
A 12-year old boy died in one of five homes destroyed at the south edge of Colorado City in Mitchell County.
At least one woman was killed in her rural home southwest of Cottonwood in Callahan County.

1956
A severe Nor'easter gave gale winds (40 mph +) and unusually high tides to the Tidewater Virginia area. At Norfolk, the strongest gust was 70 mph.
The strong northeast winds blew for almost 30 hours and pushed up the tide, which reached 4.6 feet above normal in Hampton Roads.
Thousands of homes were flooded by the wind-driven high water and damages were large. Two ships were driven aground.
Waterfront fires were fanned by the high winds. The flooded streets made access to firefighters very difficult, which added to the losses.
(Ref. Virginia Weather History)

1965
Severe thunderstorms in the Upper Midwest spawned fifty-one tornadoes killing 256 persons and causing more than 200 million dollars damage. Indiana,
Ohio and Michigan were hardest hit in the "Palm Sunday Tornado Outbreak". Although no F5’s were officially reported, at least 22 were rated as F3 or F4.
This is the third deadliest day for tornadoes on record, behind the Super Outbreak of 4/3/1974, and the outbreak that included the Tri-State Tornado of 3/18/1925.
Dr. Ted Fujita discovered suction vortices during the Palm Sunday tornado outbreak.
It had been believed the reason why tornadoes could hit one house and leave another across the street completely unscathed was because the whole tornado would "jump" from one house to another.
However, the actual reason is because most of the destruction is caused by suction vortices: small, intense mini-tornadoes within the main tornado.
(David Ludlum) (Ref. Wilson - Much Additional Information on This Storm)

1978
High winds battered nearly the entire state of South Dakota.
The high winds, accompanying a rapidly moving cold front, produced gusts of 75 mph at Phillip, 69 mph at Rapid City, and 62 mph at Sioux Falls.
Other areas generally had gusts of 45 to 65 mph. The strong winds knocked down trees and power causing pockets of power outages across South Dakota.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Ten days of flooding in the northeastern U.S. finally came to an end. Damage from flooding due to rain and snowmelt ran into the billions of dollars.
The collapse of the New York State Thruway Bridge over Schoharie Creek claimed ten lives.
(Storm Data)

1988
Sixteen cities in the western U.S., nine in California, reported new record high temperatures for the date.
Afternoon highs of 95 degrees at Sacramento CA and 96 degrees at Bakersfield CA were the warmest of record for so early in the season.
(The National Weather Summary)

1989
Forty-four cities in the south central and eastern U.S. reported new record low temperatures for the date.
Lows of 25 degrees at Conway AR, 29 degrees at Dallas/Fort Worth TX, and 22 degrees at Ozark AR, were April records.
Lows of 26 degrees at Hot Springs AR and 31 degrees at Shreveport LA equaled April records.
(The National Weather Summary)

1990
While showers produced heavy rain over much of the northeastern U.S., heavy snow blanketed northern Maine, with 13 inches reported at Telos Lake.
Strong southwesterly winds accompanying the rain and snow gusted to 68 mph at the Blue Hill Observatory in Massachusetts.
Rainfall totals of 1.04 inch at Pittsburgh PA and 1.52 inch at Buffalo NY on the 10th were records for the date.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1991
A strong Pacific storm dumped heavy snow across the northern Colorado Rockies.
Accumulations of 6 to 15 inches fell at lower elevations in and around Denver and up to almost two feet in the foothills west of town.
Specific snowfall accumulations included: 21 inches at Idaho Springs, 19 inches at Aspen Springs, 15 inches at Arvada,
14 inches at Rollinsville, 10 inches at Boulder, 8 inches at Aurora and 7.3 inches at Stapleton Airport.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1997
In North Dakota, the Red River was more than 20 feet above flood stage, its highest level in 150 years.
The flooding was caused by rain and snow that began the previous month.
The Mississippi River reached its third highest flood on record, affecting several homes and businesses.
High water also forced the closure of some highways. On this date, the Mississippi River crested at Lake City, MN: 19 feet and Wabasha, MN: 16.5 feet.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2001
An intense spring blizzard dumped heavy snow and freezing rain as it moved out of the Rockies to the northeastern Plains of Colorado.
High winds and heavy snow buffeted parts of the Front Range. Up to 18 inches of snow caused drifts as high as 10 feet.
Denver International Airport closed for the first time in its six year history. 220,000 people were without power in the worst outage in Xcel Energy history.
The storm resulted in one of the worst windstorms in Kansas history.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2016
April 10-12. Severe weather extended from Texas to Mississippi, but the greatest impacts took place in Texas, where hail sized from 2 to as much as 4.5 inches in diameter caused extensive property
damage in the Panhandle and northeastern and southern parts of the state. Economic costs of some $3.5 billion (according to the National Centers for Environmental Information, NCEI) made this the most expensive severe
weather episode of the year, and one of the most expensive ever in Texas.

APRIL
12TH

1815
Massive eruption of Mount Tambora continued and blew 100 cubic miles of ash skyward.
The eruption disrupted the global weather for several years, particularly noteworthy: the year without a summer of 1816 in North America and Europe.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1918
Two inches of snow fell at Washington, D.C., the heaviest latest snowfall in the city's history.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1927
A tornado wiped out the town of Rock Springs TX killing 72 persons and causing 1.2 million dollars damage.
The tornado was more than one mile in width and destroyed 235 of 247 buildings, leaving no trace of lumber or contents in many cases.
Many survivors were bruised by large hail that fell after the passage of the tornado.
(David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)(Ref. Weather Guide Calendar with Phenomenal Weather Events 2012 Accord Pub. 2011, USA)

1933
A vigorous cold front approached northern Colorado which presented an awe-inspiring spectacle as brilliant white wind-torn cumulus clouds were sandwiched by a brownish-tan dust cloud at the surface and dark blue cumulus clouds above.
The dust cloud storm enveloped the Denver area with wind gusts over 40 mph which resulted in blowing dust and rapidly falling temperatures and rising pressure.
Light snow began and continued through midday the next day producing several inches. Behind the front, Denver had record low temperatures of 17° and 15° on the 13th and 14th respectively.
The high temperature of 27° on the 13th was a record low maximum for the date.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1934
HIGHEST WIND IN U.S. (231 MPH) AT MT. WASHINGTON, NH.
Winds atop Mount Washington NH averaged 186 mph for five minutes, with a peak gust of 231 mph, the highest wind speed ever clocked in the world at that time.
(David Ludlum)
For nearly sixty-two years, Mount Washington, New Hampshire held the world record for the fastest wind gust ever recorded on the surface of the Earth.
In a report released by the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), that record was toppled in 1996 at Barrow Island, Australia during Typhoon Olivia.
The new world record is now 253 mph. The 316 mph wind speed recorded at Moore, OK on 5/3/1999 logged during an F5 tornado was not recorded at ground level.
Click this link to see more information - WMO

1941
Parts of the Midwest got an early glimpse of summer as temperatures soared in the 80s.
Rockford, IL tied a daily record of 84.
Temperatures of 80° or above were also experienced in Rockford on the 28th through the 30th which led to this month being the seventh warmest April on record.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1943
Two-thirds of the town of Hackleburg, AL was destroyed by an F4 tornado that ripped through the town at 1:30 a.m.
Residents reported being awakened by an "unscheduled freight train."
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1945
A series of major tornadoes raked Oklahoma, Arkansas, Missouri and Illinois. Antlers, OK was nearly obliterated by a massive F5 tornado that zigzagged from southwest to northeast across the town.
69 people died in the twister. Another tornado killed 8 people in Oklahoma City, OK.
The disaster was overshadowed by the loss of President Franklin Roosevelt, who died suddenly at his vacation home at Warm Springs, GA.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1970
A strong spring storm affected the northern and western two-thirds of South Dakota.
Heavy snow fell throughout the morning hours dumping over a foot of snow over a large area of the state.
Winds whipped the snow into 2 to 4 foot drifts across much of northern South Dakota.
The Aberdeen area was the hardest hit with around 17 inches reported.
While southeast South Dakota, southwest Minnesota, and northwest Iowa did not feel the effects of the storm, east central South Dakota was not as fortunate.
Freezing drizzle and freezing rain resulted in heavy icing in east central South Dakota causing extensive damage.
The ice storm caused power outages to 20 to 80% of the rural electric service in the area.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1972
The temperature climbed to 100° at Oklahoma City, OK.
That is the earliest date in the year that a temperature of at least 100° has ever occurred in the city.
The 100° high also set a record as the warmest temperature ever observed in April for Oklahoma City.
Meanwhile, Wichita Falls, TX also set an April high temperature that day, with a reading of 102°.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
A cold front crossing the central U.S. produced heavy snow in the Central Rockies and severe thunderstorms over Kansas and Oklahoma.
Snowfall totals ranged up to 16 inches at Red Mountain Pass CO. Thunderstorm winds gusted to 87 mph at Ponca City OK.
Winds associated with the cold front itself gusted to 69 mph at Tucumcari NM.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988
Snow blanketed the Southern Appalachians. Totals in North Carolina ranged up to 17 inches at Mitchell. Winds at Flat Top Mountain gusted to 80 mph.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989
Twenty-two cities in the south central and eastern U.S. reported record low temperatures for the date, including Elkins WV with a low of 15 degrees and Baton Rouge LA with a reading of 37 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary)

1990
Arctic air invaded the central U.S. Lincoln NE reported a record low of 17 degrees.
Thunderstorms developing along the arctic cold front produced heavy snow in north central Kansas, wind gusts to 61 mph at Midland TX, and wind gusts to 69 mph at Rawlins WY.
Warm weather prevailed in the southwestern U.S. Las Vegas NV reported a record high of 91 degrees and on the 13th Sacramento CA reported a record high of 95 degrees.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1997
The Mississippi River reached its third highest flood on record at that time, affecting several homes and businesses.
High water also forced the closure of some highways. On this date, the Mississippi River crested at 18.3 ft in Winona, MN.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2014
“Talk about schizophrenic weekend temps in Chicago ?
An 80°F maximum Saturday April 12, 2014 then a 69 peak April 13th at 11 AM before temperatures crashed 20-deg to 40s in just 2 hrs.
Then temperatures to resurge back into the 60s for five hours late Sun night April 13th before a retreat to the upper 30s by mid Monday morning.” – Ref. Tom Skilling (Long Time Chicago Weather Observer)

2016
April 10-12. Severe weather extended from Texas to Mississippi, but the greatest impacts took place in Texas, where hail sized from 2 to as much as 4.5 inches in diameter caused extensive property
damage in the Panhandle and northeastern and southern parts of the state. Economic costs of some $3.5 billion (according to the National Centers for Environmental Information, NCEI) made this the most expensive severe
weather episode of the year, and one of the most expensive ever in Texas.

APRIL
13TH

1857
Alabama:
Portions of Alabama received a surprise 4 inches snow in a late-season storm.(Ref. WxDoctor)

1877
The second coastal storm in just three days hit Virginia and the Carolinas.
The first storm flattened the sand dunes at Hatteras, and widened the Oregon inlet three quarters of a mile.
The second storm produced hurricane force winds along the coast of North Carolina causing more beach erosion and land transformation.
(David Ludlum)

1955
The town of Axis AL was deluged with 20.33 inches of rain in 24 hours establishing a state record.
(The Weather Channel)

1968
On this date through the 14th, a windstorm struck parts of the Colorado Rockies.
Sustained winds of 50 mph with a gust to 102 mph were recorded at the National Center for Atmospheric Research while winds peaked to 73 mph at Boulder, CO.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1977
The east coast was under an April heat wave that saw record high temperatures.
The maximum temperature for the date is 90°F. in Washington DC; the 90°F readings on the 12th and 13th are both records for the date.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)

1986
A major spring storm quickly intensified bringing blizzard conditions to much of the Northern Plains Region.
Up to 18 inches of snow was reported in North Dakota, and in South Dakota, winds gusting to 90 mph whipped the snow into drifts fifteen feet high.
Livestock losses were in the millions of dollars, and for some areas it was the worst blizzard ever.
(Storm Data)

1987
Thunderstorms in northern Texas produced wind gusts to 98 mph at the Killeen Airport causing a million dollars property damage.
Two airplanes were totally destroyed by the high winds and ten others were damaged.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988
Low pressure off the Atlantic coast produced high winds across North Carolina with gusts to 78 mph reported at Waves.
The high winds combined with high tides to cause coastal flooding and erosion. About 275 feet of land was eroded from the northern tip of Pea Island.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989
Thunderstorms in central Florida produced golf ball size hail and a tornado near Lakeland FL. Fair and mild weather prevailed across most of the rest of the nation.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1990
Thunderstorms developing along a cold front produced severe weather in central Oklahoma and north central Texas.
Thunderstorms in Oklahoma produced up to six inches of golf ball size hail along I-40 near El Reno, and produced wind gusts to 75 mph at Okarche.
Thunderstorms over north central Texas produced softball size hail northwest of Rotan, and high winds that injured two persons southeast of Itasca.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1999
A two mile wide area of wind-driven hail pounded residences and farm equipment for about a 5 mile stretch at least as far as State Highway 158 in west Texas near Midland/Odessa.
Hail grew up to about golf ball size and winds peaked at approximately 80 mph.
The wind-driven hail broke windows in houses and blasted paint off the wooden siding.
The strong winds took roofs off several mobile homes and at least one single-family house.
Utility crews stated that a total of 27 poles were downed by the winds. The American Red Cross determined that 324 units were affected with 18 mobile homes and 4 houses destroyed.
About 50-60 families were at least temporarily displaced.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2004
Western Kentucky and Tennessee:
A late-season storm surprises the region with snow causing six traffic fatalities. In Jackson, Tennessee, it is the latest measurable snowfall on record.(Ref. WxDoctor)

2006
An F2 tornado hit Iowa City, Iowa and trekked across other Southeast parts of the University of Iowa campus doing 15+ million dollars damage hurting 30 people and damaging or destroying 1051 buildings.
The roof/steeple/ bricks fell from the St. Patrick's Church shortly after 75 parishioners were taken to the rectory basement next door.
(Weather Guide Calendar with Phenomenal Weather Events 2007 Accord Publishing, USA)

APRIL
14TH

1851
"The Lighthouse Storm" of 1851 struck New England on this date.
Heavy gales and high seas pounded the coasts of New Hampshire and eastern Massachusetts.
The storm arrived at the time of a full moon and high tide producing unusually high storm tides.
The storm was so named because it destroyed the lighthouse at Cohasset, MA.
Two assistant lighthouse keepers were killed there when the structure was swept away by the storm tide.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1854
A major coastal storm dumped rain, sleet and snow across the East. 24 inches of snow fell in parts of northwestern New Jersey.
Many ships were lost, including a passenger ship that broke up, killing 340 people.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1873
A famous Easter blizzard raged across Kansas, Nebraska and South Dakota.
Gale force winds blew the wet snow into massive drifts, however, there were few deaths due to the sparse population and due to the gradual increase of the storm.
(David Ludlum)

1886
Minnesota's deadliest tornado struck.
(Bob Ryan's 2000 Almanac)
A devastating tornado, 800 yards in width at times, cut a twenty-mile path through Saint Cloud MN killing 74 persons.
The bottom of the Mississippi River was said to have been seen during the tornado's crossing.
Eleven persons were killed at a wedding party near the town of Rice.
(David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)

1907
This was the second day of the month when temperatures did not climb above the freezing mark at Rockford, IL.
The high temperature of 32° on the 13th and this date set a record for the lowest maximum temperature.
April 1907 remains the coldest April on record.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1912
On her maiden voyage, the RMS Titanic rammed into an iceberg just before midnight.
The "unsinkable ship" sank two hours and forty minutes later into the icy water of the Atlantic Ocean near Newfoundland, Canada.
Tragically, 1,517 passengers including the crew were lost. A nearby ship, the Carpathia, rushed to the Titanic and was able to save 706 people.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1921
THE GREATEST 24-HOUR SNOW ACCUMULATION IN U.S. HISTORY occurred at Silver Lake, CO as 75.8 inches fell on April 14th through the 15th.
During the 32 hour period of more or less continuous snowfall from 1430 MST, April 14 to 2300 MST on April 15,1921 a record 95 inches was reported.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)(Ref. Monthly Weather Review page 38)

1922
The Mississippi River reached a record height of 21.3 feet at New Orleans, LA, and the river was still rising, with the crest still a week away.
Understandably, the City of New Orleans was nervous as reports of levees failing upriver reached the city.
A crevasse below New Orleans would relieve the pressure on the city's strained levees on the 27th, sparing the city a major disaster.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1923
The 0.5 inches of snow fell in Washington DC is among the latest of DC snows.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)

1935
The most notorious dust storm of the dust bowl era struck the Plains. Known as "The Black Blizzard," it was the first of many dust storms that would affect the nation's breadbasket.
Dust clouds would be clearly visible as far away as the shipping lanes of the North Atlantic Ocean.
Politicians in Washington could not ignore the plight of the citizenry of the Plains, as huge, black clouds of dust hovered over the Nation's capitol.
Gentle rains would return in the fall of 1938, putting an end to the Dust Bowl era.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1986
The world-record hailstone, which weighed in at a terrifying 2.25 pounds (1.02 kilograms), fell in Bangladesh during a 14 April 1986 hailstorm that killed 92 people.
(Ref. More About The World's Largest Hailstone)
Strong winds rolled a 12,000 gallon fuel tank several miles at Tyron, NE as a big spring blizzard buffeted parts of the Dakotas and Nebraska.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
A storm system moving slowly northeastward across the Middle Mississippi Valley produced severe thunderstorms,
which spawned three tornadoes around Ottumwa IA, and produced up to four inches of rain in southeastern Nebraska, flooding rivers and streams.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988
A weather disturbance off the southern coast of California brought parts of southern California their first rain in six weeks.
Rain-slickened roads resulted in numerous accidents in southern California, including a ten-car pile-up at Riverside.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989
Late afternoon thunderstorms in northern Florida soaked the town of Golden Gate with 4.37 inches of rain in about two hours resulting in local flooding.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1990
Thunderstorms developing along a cold front produced severe weather in southeastern Texas during the mid morning hours.
Thunderstorms produced dime size hail at Galveston and wind gusts to 59 mph at Port Arthur. Afternoon thunderstorms over southeast Louisiana spawned tornadoes south of Bogalusa and at Rio.
(Storm Data)

1996
An intense tornado touched down in the Ozark Mountains of Stone County, AR near Allison.
It devastated a popular fishing campground, killing five vacationers.
All deaths were in recreational vehicles along the banks of the White River.
Just six minutes later, another tornado touched down in neighboring Izard County, destroying 11 homes and killing two people in two separate homes near Sylamore.
Seven people were killed and 30 injured in the Arkansas tornadoes.
Also on this date in western Kansas 10 inches of snow was reported in the Scott Lake State Park area bringing down some trees.
Six to eight inches was reported in Healy, Manning and Scott City.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1999
(Sydney, Australia):
Hailstorm causes $1.6 billion in damage, making it the costliest hailstorm to strike a populated city in the country.
The hail damaged some 22,000 homes and more than 60,000 vehicles.
Also aircraft damage at Sydney Airport was extensive.
(Ref. Hail Events by Michael Mogil)
On this date through the 15th, a spring storm dumped heavy snow over portions of the Colorado Rockies.
Nearly two feet of snow fell in the foothills with 18 inches reported over the western and southern suburbs of Denver.
The heavy snow alleviated drought conditions and associated high fire danger that prevailed during much of the winter season.
Snowfall totals included: 22 inches at Coal Creek Canyon, 20 inches at Wondervu, 19 inches at Genesee, 17 inches near Evergreen,
Nederland, Idaho Springs, and Tiny Town, 14 inches at Georgetown, 13 inches at Morrison, 10 inches at Sedalia, 9 inches in south Boulder,
8 inches at Highlands Ranch & Wheat Ridge and 7 inches at Littleton & Parker.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2002
Today was the start of the record warm week for April.
April 14th to 20th the warmest APRIL week in my 22 years of records for the Annandale-Barcroft Hills Weather Center.
Max. temps. for the seven day period starting on the 14th --- (81°F, 84°F, 90°F, 92°F, 89°F, 86°F, 81°F)

2003
Severe thunderstorms dropped hail the size of eggs in the Guangdong Province in China causing damage to homes and crops.
The storms caused one death and 24 injuries. In the city of Nanxiong, 4.7 inches of rain fall, producing severe flooding.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2014
April 14,2014 - Calendar day high was 63F in Chicago and through 7 PM Chicago had 0.5" of snow.
Never on record has there ever been a day with a high temp over 60F that also had 0.5" or more of accumulating snow! – (Ref. Chicago NWS)
April 14,2014 - marks only the 7th time in recorded Chicago weather history that Chicago had a half inch or more of measurable snowfall AFTER our first 80 degree day in the spring! – (Ref. Chicago NWS)
Perhaps Chicago will tie the record low of 25 degrees in 1943 tomorrow morning April 15th if not it will be very close! – (Ref. Chicago NWS)
(Ref.Snowfall totals from 1884)(Ref.Chicago News Paper - Chicago Tribune)

2019
Tornado warning and severe thunderstorm warnings were issued for Henrico CO. VA on April 14 and the cold front and an associated thunderstorm passed at between 1:45 AM and 2:15 AM.
Springfield Park had a wind gust of 35 mph at 1:55 AM and funnel clouds were reported in the area but no tornadoes reported. Parts of the area had straight line wind damage.
The Story of Severe Weather in Henrico CO. VA

APRIL
15TH

1854
The Great Pacques Storm raged for four days in New Jersey.
24 inches of snow fell in the hills with 6 inches on the 15th and 17th at New York City.
18 vessels were wrecked on the Jersey shore.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1896
An early season F3 tornado wiped out a half dozen farms during the overnight hours near Faulkton, SD. Two children died in one farmhouse.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1921
MOST INTENSE U.S. SNOWFALL ON RECORD IS 76 INCHES IN 24 HOURS AT SILVER LAKE, CO.
Two-mile high Silver Lake CO received 76 inches of snow in 24 hours, the heaviest 24-hour total of record for North America.
This occurred from the afternoon of the 14th to the afternoon of the 15th and ended just before midnight of the 15th.
Silver Lake, CO, near Boulder, (elev. 10,220) set several US snow records. 75.8 inches fell in 24 hours, 87 inches in 27 ½ hours and 95 inches storm total in 32 ½ hours.
(David Ludlum)(Ref. Monthly Weather Review page 38)
A complex of tornadoes of up to F4 in intensity tracked 112 miles through Marion and Cass counties in Texas and Miller, Hempstead, and Pike counties in Arkansas.
59 people were killed, 300 were injured, and damage was set at $2 million dollars.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1927
New Orleans LA was drenched with 14.01 inches of rain, which established a 24-hour rainfall record for the state.
(The Weather Channel)

1949
A hailstone five inches by five and a half inches in size and weighing four pounds was measured at Troy NY.
(The Weather Channel)

1956
An F4 tornado passed along the western and northern fringes of Birmingham, AL during the afternoon.
The twister killed 25 people along its 20 mile path. Most of the deaths occurred in the Stacey Hollow and McDonalds Chapel communities.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1958
A tornado 300 yards in width skipped along a five-mile path near Frostproof, FL.
A 2500-gallon water tank was found one mile from its original position (it is not known how much water was in the tank at the time).
(The Weather Channel)

1976
Strong southerly winds brought unusually warm temperatures into the upper Midwest.
Chicago, IL set record high minimum temperatures for three consecutive days. On this date, the low only fell to 67°; while 69° and 68° were reported the next two nights.
Rockford, IL also set record high minimums on three consecutive nights. On this date, the low only fell to 61°.
The next two nights saw low temperatures only fall to 60° and 63°.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1984
A coastal storm dumped very heavy snow over northern New England.
Caribou, ME received 28.6 inches of snow, by far their greatest 24-hour snowfall on record. 36 inches of snow fell at Telos Lake, ME.
Some sections of Vermont recorded 30 inches and up to 26 inches fell in portions of New Hampshire.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Thunderstorms developing along a cold front produced severe weather in the Southern Atlantic Coast Region.
A tornado killed one person and injured seven others near Mount Dora FL. Drifts of hail up to two feet deep were reported in Davidson and Rowan counties in North Carolina.
Myrtle Beach SC was deluged with seven inches of rain in three hours.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988
Death Valley CA was soaked with 1.53 inches of rain in 24 hours. Snow fell in the mountains of southern California.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989
Showers and thunderstorms soaked the eastern U.S. with heavy rain, pushing the rainfall total for the month at Cape Hatteras NC past their previous April record of 7.10 inches.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1990
Thunderstorms developing along a stationary front produced severe weather from west central Texas to west central Arkansas during the late afternoon and evening.
Thunderstorms spawned a tornado, which caused more than half a million dollars damage at Fort Stockton TX, produced wind gusts to 65 mph at Dennison TX,
produced baseball size hail at Silo OK and near Capps Corner TX, and drenched southeastern Oklahoma with up to 4 inches of rain in two hours.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

2003
Southern New Mexico:
Blowing dust driven by powerful winds as high as 50 mph with gusts to 130 mph sweeps across southern New Mexico.
The dust storm prompts road closures and causes a 10-car pileup that kills two.(Ref. WxDoctor)

2014
The weather service says that snowfall pushed the Detroit’s seasonal total to 94.8 inches, exceeding the previous record that stood for more than a century. In the winter of 1880-1881, 93.6 inches of snow fell.
(Ref.NWS and Detroit, Michigan News Paper)

2018
Hanalei, Hawaii, set a national rainfall record for the most rain in one day from April 14 to 15,
according to preliminary National Weather Service data.
The small Hawaiian town on the island of Kauai measured 49.69 inches of rain on that day, according to a rain gauge in Waipa, The Associated Press reported.
The total has not yet been officially certified, but if it becomes official it would break the current record of 43 inches in Alvin,
Texas, set onJuly 25-26 in 1979 during Tropical Storm Claudette.
US Daily Rainfall Record - NWSUS Daily Rainfall Record - NWS

APRIL
16TH

1849
Charleston, SC recorded their latest freeze ever with temperature of 32° while 6 inches of snow fell at Wilmington, NC.
Snow fell as far south as Milledgeville, GA. A damaging hard freeze occurred from Texas to Georgia devastating the cotton crop.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1851
The famous "Lighthouse Storm" raged near Boston Harbor. Whole gales and gigantic waves destroyed Minot Light with its two keepers still inside.
The storm resulted in great shipping losses and coastal erosion.
(David Ludlum)

1880
A tornado near Marshall MO carried the heavy timbers of an entire home a distance of twelve miles.
(The Weather Channel)

1927
The Great Mississippi River Flood of 1927 continued to rage.
Tremendous rains all over the Mississippi River Valley during the preceding autumn and winter sent floodwaters raging southward over a wide area.
On this date, the government levee at Dorena, MO collapsed.
The surge of floodwater continued pushing downriver toward the Mississippi Delta, bursting more levees as it went.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1929
Tied lowest April barometric pressure of 29.10 inches of 4-3-01. Baltimore had a barometer reading of 29.07 inches.

1944
An F4 tornado tracked 40 miles through Franklin, Hart, and Elbert Counties in Georgia and through Anderson and Abbeville Counties in South Carolina.
25 people were killed and 120 injured. Damage totaled $1 million dollars.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1960
A wind gust of 70 mph was measured at the Stapleton International Airport in
Denver CO, their highest wind gust on record.
(The Weather Channel)

1961
A spring snowstorm moved across northern Illinois with snow falling for three consecutive days.
On this date, 5 inches was reported in Chicago with winds gusting to 45 mph that caused drifts up to 10 feet.
5 to 6 inches of snow fell across parts of central and northeast Illinois, with drifts up to 6 feet.
Thousands of cars were stranded; the occupants were forced to take shelter overnight in nearby homes, gymnasiums, armories, and roller rinks.
At least six deaths were reported.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1965
The flood crest at St. Paul, MN exceeded the previous record by four feet.
Record crests occurred downriver all the way to Hannibal, MO.
Damage totaled $100 million dollars, but only 12 lives were lost due to timely warnings.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1976
The maximum temperature for the date is 91°F. in Washington DC.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)
A deepening low pressure system moved northward out of Nebraska and across western South Dakota.
Winds of 60 to 80 mph were reported across the area with gusts over 90 mph in southwest Minnesota.
Some recorded wind speeds included 62 mph at Sioux Falls, 70 mph at Brookings, and 82 mph at Watertown.
Many buildings were damaged and many roofs were blown off and at Sioux Falls and Huron airports planes were overturned.
Across southwest Minnesota many trees were uprooted and several trucks were blown off of the highway.
Across the area many barns, outbuildings, sheds, and older structures were completely demolished.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1977
An interesting oddity occurred near Wichita Falls, TX.
A weak tornado not only developed from a weak shower, as no lightning or thunder was noticed, but the tornado then proceeded to move toward the west,
though most tornadoes move toward the east.
The tornado was accompanied by a loud roar as it moved through largely uninhabited areas just west of Wichita Falls.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
A slow moving storm system produced heavy rain over North Carolina and the Middle Atlantic Coast States.
More than six inches of rain drenched parts of Virginia and flooding in Virginia claimed three lives.
Floodwaters along the James River inundated parts of Richmond VA.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988
A storm in the northeastern U.S. produced a foot of snow at Pittsburg VT.
Severe thunderstorms produced baseball size hail and spawned five tornadoes in the Southern High Plains Region.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989
A cold front, ushering sharply colder air into the north central U.S., brought snow to parts of Montana and North Dakota.
At midday the temperature at Cutbank MT was just 22 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1990
Thunderstorms developing along a stationary front produced large hail and damaging winds across Oklahoma,
with 99 reports of large hail and damaging winds during the evening and early nighttime hours.
Thunderstorms produced baseball size hail south of Carney, and wind gusts to 100 mph in the Oklahoma City area,
which swept away many federal tax returns being transported from a mail cart to a waiting truck about the time of the midnight deadline.
Will Rogers Airport in Oklahoma City reported a record wind gust of 92 mph.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1998
Tornado hits downtown Nashville causing extensive damage but no loss of life
(Bob Ryan's 2000 Almanac)
TN’s 2nd F5 of record scoured Lawrence County from WSW of Deerfield to E of Summertown.
Up to 1-mi wide, it completely leveled homes, hurled a 5,000-lb pickup >100 yd, debarked trees,
and pulled up clumps of dirt/grass from the ground.
Amazingly, no one was killed, 23 hurt.

2002
High temperature records were shattered in many cities across the East and Midwest as spring turned into summer over much of the United States.
This followed on the heels of many records that fell the day before across the Plains and Midwest.
The abnormal heat was the result of a jet stream pushed way to the north.
In stark contrast, the West had temperatures below normal with snow falling in some of the mountainous regions.
Cooke City, MT reported 10 inches while 9 inches fell at Roundup, MT and 8 inches at Billings, MT.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2007
Albany, NewYork:
Albany, NewYork: An intense nor'easter raging along the New England Coast causes the barometric pressure reading at Albany to to fall to 28.84 inches of mercury,
the lowest barometric pressure reading ever recorded in April in the Empire State's capital city.(Ref. WxDoctor)

2011
Eleven tornadoes touched down in the Wakefield, VA NWS warning area on April 16th.
Unfortunately, there were some deaths from these touchdowns, 12 in Bertie County, NC and 2 in Gloucester County, VA, both EF3 tornadoes.
Significant tornadoes also struck parts of central North Carolina (outside our area). See the following link for details:
Virginia Tornadoes Events by NWS at Wakefield,VA

2018
The National Weather Service completed a survey of damage that has impacted northwest Campbell County,
the City of Lynchburg and southern Amherst Co and have confirmed that a tornado, with a 20.4-mile long path, touched down.
The tornado had maximum wind speeds of 130 mph.
Amherst County, Virginia F2 Tornado Event - NWS

1910
The greatest daily precipitation to occur in the month of April in Richmond, Virginia was 3.65 inches.
(Ref. Richmond Weather Records - KRIC)

1920
Snow fell across Denver, CO continuously for 57 hours; from early morning on the 17th until midday on the 19th.
The heavy wet snow totaled 18.2 inches with the greatest accumulation on the ground of a foot.
At times winds gusted to near 50 mph creating near blizzard conditions. The strong winds created high drifts halting auto and rail traffic.
Many people were stranded. No lives were lost in Denver but several people perished in surrounding districts. Temperatures didn't make it out of the 20s.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1922
A family of at least six tornadoes caused death and destruction along parts of a 210 mile path from north of Ogden, IL to Allen County OH, killing sixteen persons.
A post card, picked up in Madison County IN, was found 124 miles away near Mount Cory, OH.
(The Weather Channel)

1953
One of the few severe hailstorms accompanied by snow, sleet, glaze, and rain, pelted parts of Kay, Osage, Creek, Tulsa, Washington,
and Rogers Counties in northeastern Oklahoma late in the day.
Nearly 10,000 insurance claims were filed.
(The Weather Channel)
A violent tornado, close to F5 strength at times, moved across Kankakee County before continuing into northwest Indiana, dissipating just west of Medaryville.
The worst damage was in Bourbonnais, Bradley, Exline, and in populated areas north of Kankakee. Several houses completely disappeared.
A much smaller tornado moved from the east edge of Roanoke, IN to two miles southwest of Baer Field (Fort Wayne International Airport).
21 buildings were destroyed. 50 injuries were reported in Illinois, with one fatality and 20 were injured in Indiana.
Another twister killed an elderly man in his mobile home four miles north of Coldwater, MI.

1965
The Mississippi River reached a flood crest at Saint Paul MN four feet higher than any previous mark.
During the next two weeks record levels were reached along the Mississippi between Saint Paul and Hannibal MO.
Flooding caused more than 100 million dollars damage, but timely warnings kept the death toll down to just twelve persons.
(David Ludlum)

1976
The maximum temperature for the date is 93°F. in Washington DC the second highest temperature of a 4-day 90°F heat wave.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)
The maximum temperature for the date is 96°F. at the Richmond International Airport and the highest for the month and also occurred on four other dates.
(Ref. Richmond Weather Records - KRIC)

1984
A spring storm left snow across much of the central portion of Iowa.
The greatest concentration of snow was in an 80-mile wide band from Monona County southeast to Des Moines and Knoxville.
Four to six inches were common in this band but the greatest amount of 8 inches occurred in Des Moines.
Temperatures hovering near the freezing mark prevented large accumulations on the road.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Twenty-two cities in the central U.S. reported new record high temperatures for the date.
Temperatures warmed into the 70s and 80s from the High Plains Region to the Mississippi Valley, with readings in the low 90s reported in the Southern Plains Region.
Tulsa OK hit 92 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary)

1989
Arctic cold invaded the north central U.S. Missoula MT was blanketed with four inches of snow, and Glasgow MT reported a record cold morning low of 14 degrees above zero.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1990
High winds in northern Utah, gusting to 90 mph in Weber County, blew a trampoline through a living room window,
and strong winds associated with a cold front crossing the Middle Atlantic Coast Region gusted to 75 mph in the Chesapeake Bay area of Virginia.
Unseasonably cold weather prevailed in the north central U.S. Valentine NE was the cold spot in the nation with a record low of 10 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1994
Record Alaska cold -39°F in Umiat, -32°F in Prudhoe Bay are the coldest ever for so late in the year; +2° in Fairbanks is the coldest so late since 1972.
(Bob Ryan's 2000 Almanac)

2008
Albany, NewYork:
The afternoon temperature in Navajo only reaches a high temperature of only 45°F, which tied a low high temperature record for the date.
(Ref. WxDoctor)

2016
April 17-18. Ten to 17 inches of rain set off widespread urban flooding in Houston and surrounding suburbs. Floodwaters damaged thousands of homes and businesses and led to 1,800 high- water rescues.

2018
The National Weather Service says the 14.9 inches at Minneapolis airport from Friday through Sunday set a record for the largest April snowstorm ever there. It's also the snowiest April on record in the Twin Cities. And it's the snowiest start to a calendar year there, with 70.3 inches (since Jan. 1, 2018).
In South Dakota, Sioux Falls set records for a single day in April at 13.7 inches Saturday and a record April total of 24.9 inches. Huron and Mitchell set two-day record totals for April of 15.5 inches and 16.2 inches respectively.
In Wisconsin, the storm ranks as the all-time second largest snowstorm in Green Bay at 23.5 inches and a record April total of more than 35 inches there.
(Ref. NWS-Phenomenal Late Snowstorm in the Midwest)

1906
San Francisco earthquake, 200 killed and city is destroyed by a severe earthquake that shook San Francisco,
and unusual easterly winds spread fires destroying the city.
(David Ludlum)

1944
California experienced its worst hailstorm of record.
Damage mounted to two million dollars as two consecutive storms devastated the Sacramento Valley destroying the fruit crop.
(The Weather Channel)

1957
A dust devil near Dracut MA lifted a small child three feet into the air, and rolled two other children on the ground.
Fortunately none of the three were hurt.
The dust devil was accompanied by a loud whistling sound as it moved westward.
(The Weather Channel)

1959
A severe thunderstorm moved southeast across the Chattanooga, OK area, dumping four inches of rain in just 30 minutes,
along with hail up to an inch in diameter, that piled up over a foot deep in places.
Hail up to 1½ inches in diameter also caused roof damage across south Oklahoma City.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1966
A major blizzard ravaged the northern Plains. Up to two feet of snow was reported in parts of South Dakota and 20 inches fell at Lander, WY.
Sub-freezing temperatures caused thousands of dollars damage to fruit trees across Denver, CO.
From this date through the 20th, low temperatures each morning were in the teens and failed to reach above freezing on the 19th.
The low temperature of 13° on the 20th set a new record low for the date.
Stapleton International Airport in Denver picked up 5.7 inches of snow during this period.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1970
Rapid City SD received a record 22 inches of snow in 24 hours. (17th-18th)
(The Weather Channel)

1970
It had been a devastating night for tornadoes in the Texas Panhandle. At the U.S. Weather Bureau office in Lubbock, TX it had been a busy night with countless tornado warnings issued.
Around midnight, the all clear was sounded. During the predawn hours, another group of tornadoes swarmed across the Panhandle.
13 people died at Sherwood Shores as the twister struck without warning.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1983
Four inches of snow fell in parts of southeastern Virginia, the heaviest snows on record for so late in the season.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Thirty-one cities in the central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date, including International Falls MN with a reading of 88 degrees,
and Bismarck ND with a high of 92 degrees. A sharp cold front produced high winds in the western U.S.
Winds in Utah gusted to 99 mph at the Park City Angle Station, and capsized a boat on Utah Lake drowning four persons.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988
Afternoon and evening thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds in the southeastern U.S. A strong (F-2) tornado
severely damaged seventeen mobile homes near Bainbridge GA injuring three persons.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989
Thunderstorms produced large hail and damaging winds in Texas, Oklahoma and Arkansas.
A thunderstorm in Pecos County in southwest Texas produced wind gusts to 90 mph at Imperial.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1990
Heavy snow blanketed the west central valleys and southwest mountains of Colorado with up to 18 inches of snow.
Nine cities from the Mid Mississippi Valley to the Middle Atlantic Coast Region reported record low temperatures for the date,
including Fort Wayne IN with a reading of 23 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

2005
Periods of heavy wet snow from this date through the 21st totaled 20" at Billings, MT with 2.60" water equivalent over the 4-day period.
Red Lodge, MT received 17", Story 14" and Pryor with 12".
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2016
April 17-18. Ten to 17 inches of rain set off widespread urban flooding in Houston and surrounding suburbs. Floodwaters damaged thousands of homes and businesses and led to 1,800 high- water rescues.

APRIL
19TH

1775
The first engagement of the Revolutionary War took place under clear crisp weather at Lexington-Concord.
(Sandra and TI Richard Sanders - 1987)

1927
Illinois' 10th deadliest tornado outbreak on record took a path across the central part of Illinois, killing 21 people.
The first tornado touched down near Hardin, traveling northeast through Carrollton, then skimmed the south side of Springfield.
At Carrollton, a teacher was killed as she held the door of the school shut, saving the lives of her students.
The second tornado, peaking at F4 intensity, touched down on the southeast side of Springfield, then moved to affect the towns of Riverton, Buffalo Hart, Chestnut, and Cornland.
In Buffalo Hart, only three houses were left standing, while the northern half of Cornland was leveled. The tornado track was 65 miles, ending in Ford County.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1941
The temperature at Sodus NY soared to 95 degrees. The next day Albany NY reported a record for April of 93 degrees.
(The Weather Channel)

1967
A severe hailstorm struck the Munday and Goree areas of Knox County, Texas.
Damage was estimated at $1 million dollars to property, and $500,000 dollars to crops.
Hailstones, as large as golf balls, accumulated up to 6 inches deep. Some piles drifted by the rain were 2 to 3 feet deep.
These same communities dodged a bullet the next day.
A tornado touched down in open country three miles north of Munday early the next afternoon causing no damage.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1970
After three days of very heavy rain from the 17th through this date, areas around Medford, Jefferson, Lamont, and Blackwell, OK were struck by extensive flooding.
The town of Jefferson was completely inundated. Only nine homes escaped damage, with a few buildings reporting as much as two feet of water in them.
In Blackwell, 40 city blocks and 200 homes were flooded when the Chikaskia River crested at six and one half feet above flood stage.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1973
Glenrock WY received 41 inches of snow in just 24 hours, and a storm total of 58 inches, to establish two state records. (18th-20th)
(David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)

1976
The maximum temperature for the date is 93°F. in Washington DC.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)
The northeastern U.S. was in the midst of an early season heat wave, and the
Boston Marathon took place in 90°F heat. At Providence RI the mercury hit 98 degrees.
(David Ludlum)
Much of the NE/New England broiled in their worst April heat wave of record today.
Today’ April record 98 degrees in Providence, RI, is 3 degrees warmer than May’s record.
Other April records set include: 96 degrees in Hartford, CT and New York, NY; 91 degrees in Burlington, VT.
(Ref. Weather Guide Calendar with Phenomenal Weather Events 2011 Accord Pub. 2010, USA)

1983
Strong Canadian high pressure moved into the northern Plains and Midwest.
Rockford, IL dropped to a low of 16°; setting a daily record and for the coldest April temperature.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1984
On this date through the 21st, a large snowstorm buried most of Colorado under heavy wet snow.
Snowfall totals ranged from 10-20 inches across metro Denver and 20 to 40 inches in the adjacent foothills.
The snow closed roads and damaged electrical transformers; causing numerous power outages.
Nearly 14 inches fell at Stapleton International Airport where the combination of snow and wind closed all but one runway.
Both I-70 and I-76 were closed east of Denver.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1986
A major storm system produced 10 tornadoes in Texas.
One of these tornadoes virtually annihilated the town of Sweetwater.
The tornado struck at the unlikely time of 7:17am.
One person was killed and 100 were injured.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Forty cities in the central U.S. reported new record high temperatures for the date as readings soared into the 80s and lower 90s for Easter Sunday.
Fort Smith AR reported a record high of 95 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary)

1988
Severe thunderstorms over the southeastern U.S. early in the day spawned a strong (F-3) tornado that destroyed seventeen homes and
severely damaged thirty houses near Madison FL killing four persons and injuring eighteen others.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1989
A dozen cities in the southwestern U.S. reported new record high temperatures for the date.
The afternoon high of 98 degrees at Hanksville UT equaled their record for April.
Tucson AZ reported their earliest 100 degree reading of record.
(The National Weather Summary)

1990
Five cities in the northeastern U.S. reported record low temperatures for the date as readings dipped into the 20s and upper teens.
Elkins WV reported a record low of 20 degrees.
Thunderstorms over the Southern Plains produced golf ball size hail at San Angelo TX, and up to four inches of rain in southwestern Oklahoma.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1992
A case of cold air damming as Pittsburgh, PA hit 82° while across the state at Philadelphia,
the temperature only reached 50° due to a chilly east wind off the Atlantic.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1996
From this date through the 21st, there was an almost continuous outbreak of 111 tornadoes from Arkansas, through Illinois, and into southern Canada.
Downtown Berea, KY was destroyed and Fort Smith, AR was also heavily damaged.
Advance notice of the tornadoes was very good however, as 105 of the 111 tornadoes, and all of the killer tornadoes occurred in areas covered by tornado watches.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2002
A thunderstorm with hail and high winds moved through the District of Columbia during the afternoon of the 19th.
Winds gusted as high as 70 MPH and at least 82 trees downed across the city.
Most of the damage was reported in the northern sections of town.
Trees fell onto power lines, 10 cars, 4 homes, and several roads.
A large tree, which was believed to have been struck by lightning because the roots were charred,
fell onto a vehicle that was traveling through the intersection of 12th and Shepard streets NE.
Nearly 6000 customers lost power as a direct result of the storm.
(Ref. Scott Summer)

2006
An intense spring snowstorm swept across the Dakotas, dumping up to 5 feet of snow.
The heaviest snow fell in the Black Hills, with 59.4 inches at Lead, SD. Bowman, ND reported 18 inches.
The storm closed highways including I-94 in North Dakota, cutting power to thousands and was responsible for at least 4 deaths.
Further west, 1 to 3 feet of snow and 50 to 60 mph winds caused drifts up to 10 feet, widespread power outages and livestock losses.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2019
There have been 15 confirmed tornadoes (thus far) across the Commonwealth of Virginia, associated with the Friday, April 19, 2019 severe weather event.
This article covers 14 tornadoes reported so far over Virginia so far.
14 Tornadoes Reported so far Over Virginia

APRIL
20ST

1901
Warren, Ohio had a late season snowfall of 35.5 inches in 36 hours.
(Bob Ryan's 2000 Almanac)
A spring storm produced unusually heavy snow in northeast Ohio. Warren received 35.5 inches in thirty-six hours, and 28 inches fell at Green Hill.
Akron OH established April records of 15.6 inches in 24 hours, and 26.6 inches for the month.
Pittsburgh PA established April records of 12.7 inches in 24 hours, and 13.5 inches for the month.
(David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)

1912
A tornado moved north northeast from 5 miles southeast of Rush Center, KS across the east half of Bison, KS.
Farms were wiped out near Rush Center. The loss at Bison was $70,000 dollars as half of the town, about 50 homes, were damaged or destroyed.
There were 15 injuries in town. A dozen farms were nearly wiped out. Debris from the farm houses were carried for 8 miles.
An elderly man who made light of the storm was killed with his granddaughter on a farm 2 miles southwest of Bison.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1920
Tornadoes in Mississippi and Alabama killed 219 persons.
6 tornadoes of F4 intensity were reported. Aberdeen, MS was hard hit by an F4 tornado that killed 22 people.
This same tornado killed 20 in Marion County, Alabama. 9 people in one family died in Winston County, Alabama.
(David Ludlum)(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1952
The tankers Esso Suez and Esso Greensboro crashed in a thick fog off the coast of Morgan City LA.
Only five of the Greensboro's crew survived after the ship burst into flame.
(David Ludlum)

1965
The Upper Mississippi River Valley from April 17th to the 30th:
The Mississippi River reaches a flood crest at Saint Paul Minnesota four feet higher than any previous mark.
During the next two weeks, record levels are reached along the Mississippi between Saint Paul and Hannibal, Missouri.
Flooding causes more than 100 million dollars damage, but timely warnings keep the death toll down to just twelve persons. (Ref. WxDoctor)

1967
A tornado struck 5 miles north of Cyril, OK. A pickup truck driving along State Highway 8, stalled because of the wind, and then was lifted by the tornado,
turned around to face the opposite direction, and set down again, without damage.
The driver, who described the funnel as being "full of mud", was uninjured.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1972
Severe thunderstorms struck the western parts of north Texas.
Near Bonita in Montague County, flat hailstones, four to five inches in diameter, and one inch thick, did extensive damage to autos, roofs, and windows.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Fifty-two cities in the central and eastern U.S. reported new record high temperatures for the date.
The high of 92 degrees at Memphis TN was a record for April, and the high of 94 at Little Rock AR equaled their April record.
(The National Weather Summary)

1988
A storm in the western U.S. brought heavy rain to parts of California. Mount Wilson was soaked with 4.15 inches of rain in 24 hours.
The heavy rain caused some flooding and mudslides in the Los Angeles area, and a chain reaction collision of vehicles along the Pomona Freeway that resulted in 26 injuries.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1989
Hot weather spread from the southwestern U.S. into the Great Plains Region. Twenty-three cities reported new record high temperatures for the date.
The afternoon high of 104 degrees at Tucson AZ was an April record, and highs of 87 at Provo UT, 90 at Pueblo CO, and 85 at Salt Lake City UT, equaled April records.
(The National Weather Summary)

1990
A fast moving Pacific storm produced heavy snow in the central mountains and the Upper Arkansas Valley of Colorado, with a foot of snow reported at Leadville.
Thunderstorms in the south central U.S. produced wind gusts to 76 mph at Tulsa OK, and heavy rain that caused flooding of Cat Claw Creek in the Abilene TX area.
Lightning struck the building housing a fish farm in Scott AR killing 10,000 pounds of fish. Many of the fish died from the heat of the fire.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)(Ref. Weather Guide Calendar with Phenomenal Weather Events 2012 Accord Pub. 2011, USA)

1992
A blizzard beginning on the 18th lasted through this date across the Black Hills of South Dakota.
Heavy wet snow and strong winds created blizzard conditions in the northern Black Hills that led to a major power outage.
About 2,000 households were without power for over 4 hours in some areas around Lead/Deadwood.
Snow amounts of 2 feet were common with 30 inches falling at Lead causing major traffic problems. Northwest winds gusted to over 65 mph at Rapid City, SD and to around 50 mph in the Hills.
9.2 inches of snow at Omaha, NE (8.7 inches at the airport) set several records, including the heaviest April snow.
The same storm dumped 2.7 inches of snow at Kansas City, MO for their heaviest snowfall ever so late in the season.
Ahead of the storm, an F1 tornado destroyed a 40x50 foot shed and damaged a nearby garage and home two miles south of Hillsboro, WI.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1993
A late season snowstorm struck parts of Nebraska and Iowa.
Low pressure developed over the south central United States and tracked into southwest Missouri and finally between Des Moines and Ottumwa.
Heavy snow began to fall around noon with the heaviest amounts over eastern Nebraska and southwest Iowa. 14 inches of snow fell at Hamburg and 12 inches in Sidney.
8 to 15 inches were common over eastern Nebraska and 4 to 8 inches in southwest Iowa.
The snow was very wet and heavy causing tree and power line damage. In addition, some livestock losses were reported mostly with young calves.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2000
Severe thunderstorms rolled from west to east across central Illinois throughout the morning.
These storms produced tornado touchdowns near Illiopolis and Forsyth, and another tornado tracked from near Oreana to Argenta.
This latter tornado lifted the roof off a home 2 miles northeast of Oreana, and part of a roof in Argenta was lifted off.
Earlier in the morning, the storms produced winds up to 85 mph in Cass, Tazewell and Menard Counties, causing damage to buildings, trees and power lines.
In Tazewell County, a radio tower in Groveland was blown over, causing $500,000 dollars damage, and near Washington, an airport hangar was destroyed, damaging 3 planes.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2004
A strong F3 tornado moved across the town of Utica, near LaSalle-Peru in north central Illinois.
This tornado destroyed several homes, a machinery building, and a tavern.
The roof of the tavern collapsed, killing eight people inside; many of these people had come into town from nearby mobile homes, seeking sturdier shelter.
The tornado dissipated on a steep bluff on the northeast side of town. Another tornado developed shortly afterward, crossing I-80 near Ottawa.
Several other tornadoes developed across north central and northeast Illinois, affecting areas around Joliet and Kankakee.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2006
The Dakotas on 19th and 20th:
An intense spring snowstorm sweeps across the region, dumping up to 5 feet of snow.
The heaviest snow falls in the Black Hills, with 59.4 inches at Lead, South Dakota. Bowman, North Dakota, accumulates about 18 inches.
The storm closes highways including I-94 in North Dakota, cuts power to thousands and is blamed for at least four deaths.(Ref. WxDoctor)

APRIL
21ST

1857
The Genesee Suspension Bridge in Genesee, NY, collapsed under the weight of 12 inches of wet snow weighing 19 pounds per cubic foot. Snow fell to a depth of 48 inches at Liberty in the Catskills.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1885
The town of Denison, TX was struck by a tornado in 1883 that destroyed a church.
The congregation rebuilt the church. On this date, a second tornado destroyed the newly rebuilt church.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1887
21 people were killed and 250 were injured as an F4 tornado tracked 60 miles through Anderson and Lima counties in Kansas and Bates County in Missouri.
Total damage was $1 million dollars, one of the few million dollar tornadoes in the 19th century.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1927
Massive flooding occurred along the Mississippi River Delta. Hundreds of people were killed and 500,000 were left homeless.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1952
One reason that officials of the U.S. Weather Bureau did not issue tornado forecasts was the fear of public panic.
When tornado forecasts began being issued in 1952, the predicted widespread panic did not happen.
One case did happen on this date, however, as a woman working in a store in Altus, OK jumped in her car upon hearing a tornado warning.
Her car slid off into a ditch during a bad rainstorm and she was killed.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1958
Portions of Montana were in the midst of a spring snow burst. Snowfall amounts ranged up to 55 inches at Red Lodge, 61 inches at Nye Mine, and 72 inches at Mystic Lake.
(David Ludlum)

1980
The temperature at International Falls MN hit 90 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary)

1987
Unseasonably warm weather prevailed from the Gulf of Mexico to New England and the Great Lakes Region, with twenty-nine cities reporting record high temperatures for the date.
Afternoon highs of 82 degrees at Caribou ME, 94 degrees at Mobile AL, 95 degrees at Monroe LA, and 93 degrees at New Orleans LA, were records for the month of April.
(The National Weather Summary)

1988
After having had just twelve rain outs in the previous twenty-six years at Dodger Stadium,
a third day of heavy rain in southern California rained out a double-header at Dodger Stadium which had been scheduled due to rain outs the previous two days.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989
The temperature at Las Animas CO soared to 100 degrees to establish a state record for April.
Twenty-two cities in the central and southwestern U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date.
Eight cities equaled or exceeded previous April records.
(The Weather Channel) (The National Weather Summary)

1990
Afternoon and evening thunderstorms produced golf ball size hail in Oklahoma and also caused some flash flooding in the state.
Thunderstorms over the Southern High Plains produced golf ball size hail at Roswell NM and El Paso TX.
Easterly winds and temperatures near zero produced wind chill readings as cold as 50 degrees below zero for the spring festival (Piuraagiaqta) outdoor events at Barrow AK.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1996
An F3 tornado tracked 10 miles through Sebastian and Crawford Counties in Arkansas.
The tornado tracked through downtown Fort Smith, causing severe damage.
Four people were killed, 89 were injured, and damages totaled $300 million dollars.
The towns of Fort Smith and Van Buren were especially hard hit.
1,800 homes were damaged in Fort Smith and Van Buren.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1997
The Red River reached a new record flood level in Grand Forks, ND, peaking at just over 54 feet, breaking the previous record by over 5 feet, and 26 feet above flood
Stage. The city dikes failed on the 18th and 19th, resulting in 70% of city being flooded, forcing the 50,000 residents to evacuate their homes.
The day before, a massive downtown fire burned as firefighters watched helplessly across the floodwaters. Helicopters were used to battle the blaze.
Over 75% of the city was under a mandatory evacuation order. Damages in the area totaled around $3 billion dollars.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1999
A spring storm dumped heavy snow across much of northern Colorado.
Nearly 3 feet fell in the foothills outside of Denver while a foot fell in the city.
Some were without electricity for as long as 20 hours.
Snowfall totals included: 32 inches at Idaho Springs, 12 inches at Boulder and 9 inches at the former Stapleton Airport.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2001
It was prom night in Hoisington, KS.
A tornado struck during the evening, damaging 25% of the town and passing within a block of where the prom was being held.
Parents frantically searched for their children after the twister struck. One man was killed and 28 people were injured in the tornado. T
he local hospital was evacuated after the roof was ripped off.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2002
A tornado moved across Wayne County, in southeast Illinois. The tornado passed through the southern part of Fairfield with F3 intensity winds.
One person was killed in a mobile home west of Wayne City.
42 people were injured, 13 critically. A total of 35 homes were destroyed, and 16 received major damage.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1883
An outbreak of tornadoes from Louisiana to Kansas claimed the lives of 200 persons. One of the tornadoes destroyed the town of Beauregard, MS.
(David Ludlum)

1885
The worst snowstorm since stations records began in 1872 dumped 24 inches of snow at Denver, CO.
The 23 inches recorded through the 23rd was the greatest 24-hour snowfall ever recorded during the month of April.
Streets were impassable, roofs caved in, telegraph and phone wires were downed, railroads were blocked & trains delayed, and most businesses came to a standstill.
Estimated losses were estimated at $50,000 dollars. Precipitation from the storm totaled 2.79 inches.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1910
One-tenth of an inch of snow fell at Chicago, IL.
A total of 6.4 inches of snow fell from this date through the 26th marking the Windy City's latest April significant snowfall event.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1932
Lightning struck a flock of geese over Elgin, Manitoba Canada. 52 large wild geese fell to earth dead and were distributed to the townspeople for goose dinners.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1941
Long dry spell no rain from 6th to the 22nd or 16 days.

1963
A tornado caused a path of destruction from Illiopolis, IL in far eastern Sangamon County eastward to Decatur, IL.
One man was carried 200 yards; he died from his injuries several days later. The storm also produced two inch diameter hail in Decatur.
The tornado's path was nearly identical to the tornado which affected the area on 4/19/1996.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1970
A major winter storm was finally exiting South Dakota after four days of battering the state.
The slow moving storm began affecting western South Dakota on the 18th dumping heavy snow in the Black Hills through the 20th.
Amounts of up to around two feet were reported. Lead reported 22 inches of new snow which when added to the 1969-70 seasonal snowfall set an all-time seasonal snowfall record for Lead at 206.6 inches.
The old record was 187.8 inches which fell in the 1954-55.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1980
A record April heat wave sent the mercury up to the 100°F mark in Iowa.
(The Weather Channel)

1983
Beauregard, Mississippi:
A major tornado outbreak claims 200 lives across Kansas to Mississippi.
The entire town of Beauregard is destroyed with 29 deaths and 100 injuries. (Ref. WxDoctor)

1985
The maximum temperature for the date is 93°F. in Washington, DC.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)
The maximum temperature for the date is 96°F. at the Richmond International Airport and the highest for the month and also occurred on four other dates.
(Ref. Richmond Weather Records - KRIC)

1986
A cold Canadian are of high pressure moved into the upper Midwest and brought unseasonably record cold temperatures.
Chicago, IL recorded three consecutive nights of record cold. On this date, Chicago dropped to 24 °F and Rockford, IL also reported a record low of 23°.
Other record lows set: Madison, WI: 19°, Waterloo, IA: 20°, Cedar Rapids, IA: 22°, LaCrosse, WI: 23°, St. Cloud, MN: 23°, Green Bay, WI: 24 °F.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Fifteen cities in the southeastern U.S. reported new record high temperatures for the date. The afternoon high of 96 degrees at Pensacola FL established a record for the month of April.
(The National Weather Summary)

1989
Twenty-seven cities in the central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date.
The high of 96 degrees at Omaha was an April record, and the high of 100 degrees at Lubbock, TX equaled their record for April.
Hill City KS and Liberal KS tied for honors as the hot spot in the nation with afternoon highs of 103 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary)

1990
Thunderstorms produced severe weather from the Southern and Central High Plains to northwest Florida during the afternoon and evening.
Thunderstorms produced wind gusts to 67 mph at Gillette WY, hail two inches in diameter west of Roswell NM,
and deluged Cheyenne OK with 8.68 inches of rain leaving some parts of the town under five feet of water.
Temperatures reached the low 90s in the north central U.S. Chamberlain SD and Pickstown SD tied Presidio TX for honors as the hot spot in the nation with afternoon highs of 94 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1992
With a fresh blanket of snow from a recent snowstorm helping to keep the air cool the high temperature at Sioux Falls, SD only reached 31°.
This is the latest below freezing high temperature on record in Sioux Falls.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1993
Late snowstorm drops 2-3 inches north and west of DC, Grantsville, MD got 4 inches topping a record season total of 220 inches.
(Bob Ryan's 2002 Almanac)

1997
A mid-afternoon F2 tornado struck the small northeast Alabama town of Rainsville without warning, injuring 12 people.
Over 30 homes were damaged by the twister and 50 buildings in the small town received damage, including the city and police and fire stations.
No tornado warning was in effect at the time of the storm since NWS Doppler radar did not show significant signs of storm rotation.
Ironically, a more powerful Doppler radar was being prepared for installation, very near the location of the tornado.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1999
A one million dollar air charter Bowling 727 flew into large hail. Although the plane and it 66 occupants landed safely, the aircraft was declared a total loss.
(Ref.Extreme Weather by H. Michael Mogil Text Copyright 2007)- Extreme Global Hail Events p. 152

2003
Tropical Storm Ana became the first Atlantic tropical storm since records began in 1871 to form during the month April.
Maximum sustained winds reached 55 mph. Beginning as a non-tropical area of low pressure on the 18th about 210 miles south-southwest of Bermuda,
it was classified as a sub-tropical storm early on the 20th, it gained full tropical characteristics near 0000 UTC on the 21st, developing an “eye” feature.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

APRIL
23RD

1870
Estherville, Iowa:
The Estherville Vindicator uses the term blizzard in reference to a storm that produced heavy snow and high winds in Minnesota and Iowa from 14-17 March 1870.
This is the first published application of blizzard as a weather term according to David Ludlum (Early American Winters, Volume II, 1968).(Ref. WxDoctor)

1885
Denver's greatest snow 23 inches in 24 hours.
(Bob Ryan's 2000 Almanac)
The city of Denver CO was in the midst of a storm that produced 23 inches of snow in 24 hours, and at Idaho Springs CO produced 32 inches of snow.
(David Ludlum)

1910
The temperature at the Civic Center in Los Angeles CA hit 100°F to establish an April record for the city.
(The Weather Channel)

1948
A three block long section was devastated at the edge of Ionia, IA in Chickasaw County by an F4 tornado.
Six homes and a church were leveled and nine other homes were badly damaged.
Two deaths occurred in the collapse of the Huffman Implement Store. Overall, the tornado killed 5 people, injured 25, and caused $250,000 dollars in damages.
An F2 tornado touched down initially 5 miles northeast of Rochester.
Barns, silos, windmills, and machinery were destroyed on four farms as this tornado tracked north.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1961
Severe weather struck the south suburbs of Chicago, IL. Joliet, IL reported an inch of hail with some hailstones the size of golf balls.
Heavy rain from these storms also resulted in some flooding.
A tornado struck the town of Peotone resulting in damage to nearly every building with damage also reported in Lorenzo and Wilton Center, IL.
Damage was estimated at $9 million dollars with about 30,000 structures affected.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1983
A mini-blizzard produced sixteen inches of snow at Laramie WY, including a foot of snow in just eight hours during the night.
(The Weather Channel)

1986
Up to two feet of heavy wet snow fell across portions of Catskills and Poconos of northeastern Pennsylvania and New York causing major traffic delays.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Thunderstorms in the Atlantic Coast Region produced golf ball size hail and wind gusts to 67 mph at Anderson SC.
The high winds destroyed two planes at the airport, and the large hail damaged fifty other planes, and severely damaged twenty-three greenhouses.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988
An intense winter-like storm brought thunderstorms to southern California, and produced snow in some of the higher elevations.
Nine girls at Tustin CA were injured when lightning struck the tree under which their softball team had taken shelter from the rain.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989
Salina KS was the hot spot in the nation with a high of 105 degrees. The high of 105 degrees established an April record for the state of Kansas.
A total of eighteen cities in the central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data) (The Weather Channel)

1990
Thunderstorms produced severe weather in West Texas and western Oklahoma.
Thunderstorms produced tennis ball size hail at Lake McKenzie, TX and at Garden City, TX, and produced wind gusts to 90 mph at Gage,
OK.
Thunderstorms drenched southeast Minnesota with heavy rain, with 6.6 inches reported northwest of Browndale.
High temperatures were mostly in the 80s across the central U.S. The morning low of 67 degrees at Fargo ND and afternoon high of 91 degrees were both records for the date.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)See web site and scroll down to the number 5 storm.

1999
On Friday, April 23, 1999 a horrific hailstorm moved southeast from Pennsylvania across Garrett County, MD and into the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia.
It had weakened some as it crossed Garrett County and the Allegany Front, but as it passed east of Keyser, WV, hail began to increase in size once again.
By the time it reached Capon Bridge in eastern Hampshire County, WV, the size of the hail had grown from golf balls to baseballs.
As it moved into Frederick County, VA, the hail storm continued to grow dropping golf ball size hail in a swath now reaching from the north of Winchester, south to Stephen City (about 10 miles).
The intensity of the hail stripped and shredded leaves and bark from the newly budding trees. Hailstones grew to the size of Grapefruit (4 inches in diameter) just east of Winchester.
The storm continued east through Clarke County, southern Loudoun and northern Fauquier doing considerable damage to Middleburg,
then across Fairfax County hitting Centreville, Chantilly, Fairfax, Burke, Springfield, and Lorton with golf ball to baseball size hail.
It crossed the Potomac River and weakened just slightly.
It moved across northern Charles, clipped southern Prince Georges and then into Calvert County with 1 inch to 1.5-inch diameter hail and onto the Chesapeake Bay continuing southeast to the ocean.
The damage left behind was incredible. In Northern Virginia alone, it amounted to over $50 million dollars in losses to public and private properties.
Some communities saw a third of the homes with siding and roof damage. Some required total replacement. Windows were broken, cars dented and windshields smashed.
Piles of shredded plant debris were left on the ground in the storm path. In about 6 hours of time, this one thunderstorm, moving at about 50 mph, did $75 million in damage.
There have been other bad hailstorms to hit this area before, but none to cause this much damage to property.(Hail Storm of April 23, 1999 Ref. The Annandale Weather Center)
Between 4:30 and 5:00 I drove into hail near George Mason University.
The size of the hailstones was at least the size of quarters and fell with intensity enough that they accumulated to the point that they whitened the ground.
Even with the loud noise of the hailstones hitting the car you could detect the crunch of the ice beneath the tires.
There was little wind associated with the hail, which was fortunate.
The wide area affected was a little surprising to me and the hail was intense enough I could detect evidence of the hailstorm all the way to Centreville after traveling through the storm.
Near Centreville I stopped and examined some of the hailstones.
Many of the hailstones were perfectly spherical but some of the larger diameters had unusual platelet shape that were nearly a half inch thick but an inch and a quarter across
(larger diameter than the spherical stones but thinner).
Also it was interesting that the hail was intense enough in some areas that it knocked enough of the young foliage from the trees onto the road that the road literally was green except for the tracks of the tires.
It created a noticeable odor from the leaves being crushed.
Also the hail accumulated enough that it cooled the air at the surface below the dew point and created a ground fog that was no more than twenty-five feet above open fields.
The fog was thicker in areas near open fields as compared to area covered by trees and the visibility was variable and at times it drifted across the road and cut visibility to less than one hundred feet.
No hail fell at my home station location and I felt fortunate to have witnessed such an unusual weather event.
(Lowell Koontz The Annandale,VA Barcroft Hills Weather Observer)

1834
Sargeant, Nebraska:
Four and a half inch diameter hail is reported near Sargeant. (Ref. WxDoctor)

1880
Several tornadoes affected parts of central and southwest Illinois.
One tornado of F4 intensity touched down near Jerseyville, and killed one person along an 18 mile path.
Another F4 tornado passed just north of Carlinville and lifted near Atwater, destroying 50 buildings.
Six people were killed in Christian County by an F5 tornado, which tracked from 9 miles southwest of Taylorville to near Sharpsburg.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1899
Two women and one son lived to tell the story of being picked up by a tornado and carried more than a fourth of a mile,
flying far above the church steeples, before being gently set down again.
The young boy and one of the ladies said they had the pleasure of flying alongside a horse.
The horse "kicked and struggled" as it flew high above and was set down unharmed about a mile away.
(The Weather Channel)

1908
Severe thunderstorms spawned eighteen tornadoes over across the Central Gulf Coast States claiming the lives of 310 persons.
The state of Mississippi was hardest hit. A tornado near Hattiesburg, MS killed 143 persons and caused more than half a million dollars damage.
Four violent tornadoes accounted for 279 of the 310 deaths. The deadliest of the four tornadoes swelled to a width of 2.5 miles as it passed near Amite, LA.
The tornado also leveled most of Purvis MS.
(David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)

1925
Heavy showers and thunderstorms moved into northern Illinois during the late afternoon/early evening.
Midway airport recorded 2.05 inches of rain.
Of the 2.05 inches, 1.29 inches fell in just five minutes; setting the record for the most rainfall in any single five minute period for Chicago.
That was more than a third of the monthly average.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1960
The maximum temperature for the date is 94°F. in Washington, DC as a heat wave with the maximum temperatures of 95°, 94°, 93° on 23rd to the 25th giving three records in a row.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)

1987
Showers and thunderstorms produced heavy rain in the Middle Atlantic Coast Region. Up to seven inches of rain drenched Virginia in three days.
Morgantown, WV received 4.27 inches in 24 hours, and flooding was reported in south central West Virginia.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988
Low pressure produced high winds and severe thunderstorms in the Southern Plains Region. Strong thunderstorm winds destroyed two mobile homes at Whitt TX injuring two persons.
Winds associated with the low-pressure system gusted to 70 mph at Guadalupe Pass TX.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989
Twenty cities in the central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date. Russell KS was the hot spot in the nation with a reading of 101 degrees.
Evening thunderstorms produced severe weather from Colorado to Wisconsin. Hail four and a half inches in diameter was reported at Sergeant NE.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1990
Thunderstorms produced severe weather from the Southern High Plains to north central Kansas.
Thunderstorms spawned ten tornadoes, including one, which injured four persons and caused 1.5 million dollars damage at Shattuck OK.
Thunderstorms also produced softball size hail at Wheeler TX, wind gusts to 85 mph southwest of Arnett, OK, and 13.45 inches of rain
near Caldwell TX, which resulted in the worst flooding in recent memory for that area.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
Thunderstorms also produced softball size hail at Wheeler, TX, wind gusts to 85 mph southwest of Arnett, OK, and 13.45 inches of rain near Caldwell, TX,
which resulted in the worst flooding in recent memory for that area.
A tornado leveled most of Purvis, MS. Eight inches of rain in just two hours fell at Mathis, TX and 13.4 inches at Caldwell, TX in just three hours.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1993
Severe weather struck parts of eastern Oklahoma during the afternoon and evening hours.
Severe thunderstorms produced eight tornadoes and dumped hail up to the size of baseballs.
The deadliest tornado of the year; an F4 touched down in east Tulsa, and followed Interstate 44 into the community of Catoosa.
Seven people were killed and 100 were injured. Total damage was $110 million dollars.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1996
The second windstorm in less than a week developed east of the Continental Divide and spread across the Denver metro area.
High winds gusted from 60 to 90 mph. Several power lines and poles were downed. Some of the stronger winds included: 91 mph atop Squaw Mountain west of Denver,
90 mph atop Table Mesa near Boulder, 85 mph at Golden Gate Canyon.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2003
Juneau, Alaska:
The temperature soars to a maximum of 70 °F , the earliest record of 70 °F to occur in Juneau. (Ref. WxDoctor)

2005
Cleveland, Ohio:
Late-season snow falls across portions of the lower Great Lakes. In the greater Cleveland area, one foot of snow accumulates in some localities.
(Ref. WxDoctor)

2010
April Tornado Outbreak- During a major severe weather outbreak across the South on April 22-25, 142 tornadoes raked the region, including 77 on April 24 alone.
Ten died from the long-track tornado that swept across Mississippi on April 24.
The biggest and deadliest outbreak of the year tore across the South on April 22-25, when 142 tornadoes raked the region.
Forty twisters stuck on April 22 and 77 on April 24. The latter day's storms concentrated in Mississippi, Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky.
A long-lived twister left a trail of destruction extending over 149 miles from Louisiana through Mississippi, resulting in 10 deaths and 75 injuries.
This EF4 storm, which grew to a width of 1.75 miles, sported the fourth longest track in Mississippi history. This storm destroyed part of Yazoo City, Mississippi.
The Swiss Reinsurance Company estimated insured damages with this outbreak at $1.58 billion.
(Ref. Weatherwise U.S. Weather Highlights of 2010 page 3 and 5 )

1875
New York City received three inches of snow, the latest measurable snow of record for that location.
(David Ludlum)

1880
A violent tornado, at times up to 400 yards wide, swept away at least 20 homes in Macon, MS.
Pieces of some of the homes were found 15 miles away. 22 people died and 72 were injured.
Loaded freight cars were thrown 100 yards into homes. A cloth was carried for eight miles.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1893
The first known official tornado outbreak in central Oklahoma occurred on this date with at least five strong or violent tornadoes.
One twister moved through northern Cleveland County, destroying 30 homes. This tornado was more than one mile wide at times.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1896
A violent tornado ½ mile wide cut a swath across Cloud, Clay and Washington Counties in Kansas.
As many as 11 people died, all in Clay County and 27 farm homes were destroyed.
Newspapers reported that "everything was leveled as if a roller had passed over it." The body of a dead child was reportedly carried ½ mile.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1898
The temperature at Volcano Springs CA hit 118 degrees to establish a U.S. record for the month of April.
(The Weather Channel)

1910
Chicago IL was blanketed with 2.5 inches of snow, and a total of 6.5 inches between the 22nd and the 26th.
It was the latest significant snow of record for the city.
(The Weather Channel)

1912
Ponca City, OK was struck by an F4 tornado. One person was killed and 119 homes were damaged or destroyed.
Dozens of oil derricks were flattened or twisted, southwest of town. The tornado was reportedly visible and audible for 20 miles.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1920
Atlanta GA received 1.5 inches of snow, and experienced their latest freeze of record with a morning low of 32 degrees.
The high of just 39 degrees was only their second daily high colder than 40 degrees in April.
(The Weather Channel)

1925
The maximum temperature for the date is 96°F. at the Richmond International Airport and the highest for the month and also occurred on four other dates.
(Ref. Richmond Weather Records - KRIC)

1937
Third greatest flood recorded in Washington, DC history. The river was at 14.2 feet, only 1889 and 1936 were worse.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)

1984
A late season snowstorm struck the Northern Rockies and the Northern Plains. The storm produced some unusually high snowfall totals.
The town of Lead, located in the Black Hills of western South Dakota, was buried under 67 inches of snow.
Red Lodge, located in the mountains of southern Montana, reported 72 inches of snow. Up to 60 inches blanketed the mountains of northern Wyoming.
It was rated the worst late season storm of record for much of the affected area. (25th-28th)
(Storm Data) (The Weather Channel) (Ref. More Information About This Storm)

1986
Chicago, IL recorded high temperatures of 90 °F on this date and the 26th.
Besides setting back-to-back records on both dates, this was the second April in history to record temperatures of at least 90 °F on two days.
The previous year was 1952. Quincy, IL set the high temperature record for April when the high reached 92°.
Springfield, IL tied their April record with 90°.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Low pressure off the coast of North Carolina produced heavy rain flooding creeks in the foothills and the piedmont area, before moving out to sea.
The low-pressure system also produced wind gusts to 50 mph in Virginia.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988
Thunderstorms racing at 65 mph produced large hail in Alabama and Georgia.
Hail damage in Alabama was estimated at fifty million dollars, making it their worst weather disaster since Hurricane Frederick in 1979.
Hail three inches in diameter accompanied a tornado near Valdosta GA. Hail four and a half inches in diameter was reported south of Atlanta GA.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989
Thunderstorms developing along a stationary front produced severe weather from North Carolina to Indiana and Ohio with more than 70 reports of large hail and damaging winds.
A strong (F-2) tornado hit Xenia OH injuring 16 persons and causing more than a million dollars damage.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1990
Thunderstorms produced severe weather from Texas to Nebraska. Thunderstorms spawned fifteen tornadoes, including a powerful (F-4) tornado near Weatherford TX.
Between 3 PM and 8 PM, a storm complex tracking northeastward across central Kansas spawned four tornadoes along a 119-mile path from Ness to Smith Center,
with the last tornado on the ground for 55 miles.
Del Rio TX was raked with hail two inches in diameter and wind gusts to 112 mph.
Brown County and Commanche County in Texas were deluged with up to 18 inches of rain, and flooding caused more than 65 million dollars damage.
Two-dozen cities in the north central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date.
Highs of 87 degrees at Flint MI and 90 degrees at Alpena MI were records for April.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1994
Strong winds of 60 to 70 mph created dust storms that reduced visibilities to near zero over parts of southwest Kansas.
A dust storm warning was issued which is extremely uncommon. Zero visibility in areas forced vehicles off roadways. A Kansas
Highway Patrol spokesman was quoted as saying “it was parallel to whiteout in a snowstorm”.
A tornado was reported in Dallas County, Texas killing three people and injuring 27. Damage totaled $200 million dollars.
Further north, record rainfall occurred in parts of eastern Minnesota and western Wisconsin.
The following locations had their wettest April day on record: Sparta, WI: 3.80", Hokah, MN: 3.55", La Crescent, MN: 3.43", Cashton, WI: 3.22", Ontario, WI: 3.00 inches.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1996
International Falls, MN recorded 9.6 inches of snow in a late season snowstorm.
This brought the city's seasonal snowfall to 116.0 inches.
This broke the old seasonal snowfall record of 111.0 inches set in 1992-93.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2008
Anchorage, Alaska on the 25th and 26th:
Record snowfall falls over the Anchorage region.
The NWS Office measures 17.2 inches at ts office just south of Anchorage's international airport and 22 inches in northeast Anchorage.
The heaviest snow falling between 3 and 6 p.m. on the 25th accumulates at a rate of almost two inches per hour. The 15.5 inches on the 25th is the third-most for any one day in Anchorage.
(Ref. WxDoctor)

APRIL
26TH

1834
Killer frosts were reported in the Deep South. The frost was quite severe around Huntsville AL, and highlighted a backward spring in the South that year.
(David Ludlum)

1884
Tornadoes were hard to capture on early cameras with their hard to use glass plate negatives.
The first recorded photograph of a tornado was taken on this date by A.A. Adams near Garnett, KS.
Adams reportedly sold many copies of the photo as a stereoscopic set that could be viewed with a special viewer.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1960
The maximum temperature for the date is 96°F. at the Richmond International Airport and the highest for the month and also occurred on four other dates.
(Ref. Richmond Weather Records - KRIC)

1962A tornado struck Sheppard Air Force Base, near Wichita Falls, TX.
The tornado blew out all but one of the 12, large windows, in the control tower.
Tower personnel had been evacuated only four minutes earlier.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1969
Eastern Montana on the 25th and 26th:
A cold front associated with a late season storm brings sharp weather changes to eastern Montana.
Following a day when numerous stations registered their month's highest temperature, the temperatures fall more than 50 Fahrenheit degrees in 24 hours.
(Ref. WxDoctor)

1972A tornado struck Sheppard Air Force Base, near Wichita Falls, TX.
A spring snow storm accompanied by thunder dumped over 15 inches of heavy wet snow on Denver, CO.
The storm was quite intense and hampered travel. Gusty winds to 35 mph caused drifts 10 to 15 feet in some areas blocking roads and stranding hundreds of motorists.
Power lines were downed and poles toppled with a number of steel towers carrying high voltage power lines were downed.
Some areas northeast of Denver were without power for a week. A large number of livestock perished. Warm temperatures following the storm quickly melted the snow.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1978
An unusually strong occluded front swept out of the Gulf of Alaska and produced the first April thunderstorm of record at Fairbanks.
Pea size hail fell northeast of Fairbanks from thunderstorms whose tops were less than 8000 feet.
(The Weather Channel)

1984
Severe thunderstorms associated with an intense cyclone spawned a total of forty-seven tornadoes in two days from Louisiana to Upper Michigan.
The tornadoes killed 16 persons and injured 259 others.
(Storm Data)

1986
Mt. Washington, New Hampshire records 7 feet of snow in ten days and over a 90 inch total for the month for a new April record.
(Bob Ryan's 2000 almanac)
Intense thunderstorms swept across southeast South Dakota, southwest Minnesota, and northwest Iowa.
Baseball size hail fell in a 15 mile wide swath from near Pickstown to Scotland, SD.
The large hail caused extensive damage to windows, roofs, siding, and vehicles in the path of the storm.
Wind gusts of 70 to 80 mph and rain amounts of 2 or more inches in a short period of time (including 5 inches at Centerville) were reported in southeast South Dakota.
Several tornadoes moved across northwest Iowa including one that moved across part of Lyon County destroying several farmsteads.
Another tornado moved through Lyon County, Iowa into Nobles County, Minnesota damaging, at least, 16 separate farms.
Yet, another tornado touched down briefly on the south side of Okebena in Jackson County destroying or damaging several houses.
The Chernobyl nuclear power station at Kiev Ukraine suffered a massive explosion.
The radioactive cloud of particles and gas carried westward and northwestward, contaminating large areas of Europe in the following week.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Twenty-two cities in the central and western U.S. reported new record high temperatures for the date.
The afternoon high of 83 degrees at Astoria OR smashed their previous record by 13 degrees. Sacramento CA hit 94 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary)

1988
While Rochester MN was blanketed with 13.7 inches of snow, establishing a single storm record for the month of April, Minneapolis MN, just 90 miles away, got only rain.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1989
Thirty-three cities in the central and southeastern U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date.
Afternoon highs of 91 degrees at Evansville IN and Nashville TN equaled April records.
Thunderstorms produced severe weather from Iowa to Kentucky, with more than ninety reports of large hail and damaging winds.
Thunderstorm winds gusted to 90 mph at Berwick IA.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1990
Twenty-nine cities from the Carolinas to the Great Lakes Region and western New England reported record high temperatures for the date as readings soared into the 80s and lower 90s.
Record high temperatures included 95 degrees at Baltimore MD and 92 degrees at Allentown PA.
The record high of 89 degrees at Alpena MI was the third out of six straight record highs for that location, and smashed their previous record for the date by ten degrees.
(The National Weather Summary)

1991
Severe thunderstorms in the central U.S. spawned fifty-five tornadoes from northeastern Texas to Iowa and eastern Nebraska killing twenty-one persons.
Early evening thunderstorms over south central Kansas spawned a violent (F-5) tornado, which traveled 45 miles from southwest of Wichita to north of El Dorado.
It killed seventeen persons including thirteen at the Golden Spur Mobile Home Park in Andover.
The tornado also caused 62 million dollars damage to McConnell Air Force Base as it crossed the south side of Wichita.
(National Weather Summary

1997A tornado struck Sheppard Air Force Base, near Wichita Falls, TX.
In an unusual occurrence, the national high and low temperatures for the day were both registered in the same state.
The national low was set at Springerville, AZ high on the Mogollon Rim with 21°, and the afternoon national high of 101° in Kingman, AZ is located in the western Arizona desert.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2003
Sierra Nevada Mountains, California:
A powerful spring storm dumps up to 20 inches of snow leaving some ski resorts with record April snow totals —
Alpine Meadows just north of Lake Tahoe reporting more than 100 inches of snow, and the Kirkwood Resort south of Tahoe accumulating 112 inches. (Ref. WxDoctor)

2011
Super Tornado Outbreak (April 25-30)
Most of the tornadoes spawned in this storm happened in the Southeast, from Mississippi to Virginia, though a total of 334 tornadoes have been confirmed in 21 states from Texas to New York.
April 27th, in particular, was a notably destructive and deadly day, as 188 tornadoes touched down in the Southeast, four of which were rated EF-5.
The NCDC estimates that the Super Outbreak resulted in at least $5.5 billion in damages.
(Source: Associated Press. 4/28/11)

1912
One of the worst tornado outbreaks in Oklahoma's history occurred.
16 tornadoes rated F2 or greater touched down in the state with 6 of them rated F4. 29 people were killed.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1915
The maximum temperature for the date is 95°F. in Washington, DC.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)
The maximum temperature for the date is 96°F. at the Richmond International Airport and the highest for the month and also occurred on four other dates.
(Ref. Richmond Weather Records - KRIC)

1922
For two weeks, the city of New Orleans, LA had been under siege from a major flood on the Mississippi River.
On this date, a levee failure occurred 12 miles downriver from New Orleans at Poydras in St. Bernard Parish.
The Poydras crevasse would become an opening 1,500 feet wide in the levee and flooding Plaquemines and St. Bernard Parishes, but saving New Orleans.
As the Corps of Engineers built more and more levees, the river went higher and higher.
The 1922 flood was a preview of a worse flood that would occur in 1927.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1923
A tornado moved east from the northeast corner of Baca County, Colorado.
Accompanied by two other funnel clouds, the tornado struck the Sherwood school, 14 miles northwest of Johnson Kansas, killing the teacher and injuring five small children.
The body of the teacher was carried 100 yards. The prairie grass in this sparsely settled region appeared to be burned.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1933
The minimum temperature for the date is 38°F. in Washington, DC.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)
This was the 11th day during the month where the low temperatures at Rockford, IL fell below the freezing mark.
The morning low of 26° tied a record low for the date.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1942
A destructive tornado swept across Rogers County and Mayes County in Oklahoma. The tornado struck the town of Pryor killing 52 persons and causing two million dollars damage.
(David Ludlum)

1984
A significant tornado outbreak struck the southern Plains, with 11 tornadoes reported over the eastern half of Oklahoma.
The most devastating of the storms tore through the town of Morris, in Okmulgee County.
This storm destroyed 28 square blocks of Morris, killing eight people and injuring nearly 100.
Another tornado killed three people and injured 37 on its path through Creek and Pawnee counties.
The severe storms also dumped large hail, with hailstones up to the size of grapefruits reported.
A strong tornado touched down 8 miles southwest of Plainfield, in northeast Illinois, and lifted just southeast of town.
This tornado damaged 43 homes, of which 14 were nearly destroyed. Large wooden beams were driven into nearby homes. One person was killed.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Forty-two cities in the western and south central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date.
The afternoon high of 87 degrees at Olympia WA was an April record, and highs of 92 degrees at Boise ID, 95 degrees at Monroe LA,
and 96 degrees at Sacramento CA tied April records.
(The National Weather Summary)
More than 300 daily temperature records fell by the wayside during a two-week long heat wave across thirty-four states in the southern and western U.S.
Thirteen cities established records for the month of April.
(Sandra and TI Richard Sanders - 1987)

1988
Mount Washington, NH reported seven feet of snow in ten days, pushing their snowfall total for the month past the previous record of 89.3 inches set in 1975.
(The National Weather Summary)

1989
Thunderstorms produced severe weather from the Lower and Middle Mississippi Valley to Virginia and the Carolinas.
Hail up to four and a half inches in diameter caused five million dollars damage around Omaha NE.
Thunderstorms spawned eleven tornadoes, and there were 160 other reports of large hail and damaging winds.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
Miles City, MT recorded their wettest April day on record as 15 inches of snow fell; equivalent to 2.06 inches of liquid.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1990
Thunderstorms produced severe weather in eastern Texas and the Lower Mississippi Valley.
Severe thunderstorms spawned thirteen tornadoes in Texas and twelve in Louisiana.
A tornado southwest of Coolidge TX injured eight persons and caused more than five million dollars damage.
There were also eighty-five reports of large hail and damaging winds, with baseball size hail reported at Mexia TX and Shreveport LA.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1990
Forty-three cities in the eastern U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date.
Records highs included 94 degrees at Charleston WV, 95 degrees at Baltimore MD and 96 degrees at Richmond, VA.
(The National Weather Summary)
The maximum temperature for the date is 96°F. at the Richmond International Airport and the highest for the month and also occurred on four other dates.
(Ref. Richmond Weather Records - KRIC) (Ref. Wilson - Additional Temperatures Listed On This Link)

2003
For only the 11th time since records began in 1871, hail was observed in Key West Florida.
A severe thunderstorm produced hail to 1.75 inches in diameter which easily broke the previous record of a half an inch in diameter which was set on May 10, 1961.
(Weather Guide Calendar with Phenomenal Weather Events 2007 Accord Publishing, USA)

2014
Central and Southern US Tornado Outbreak: April 27-28. Although the annual tornado count dropped below 900 for the first time in 25 years, there were several deadly outbreaks this year.
The deadliest one caused 34 deaths in Arkansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Tennessee, accounting for 72% of all United States tornado deaths in 2014.
Ref. (Weatherwise MA-JUNE 2015, page 14)

APRIL
28TH

1893
A ½ mile wide F4 tornado killed 23 people and injured 150 as it tore a path of devastation through Cisco, TX.
Every building in the town was either totally destroyed or severely damaged.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1898
The minimum temperature for the date is 33°F. in Washington, DC and also the latest measurable snow in Washington with 0.5 inches melted 0.29 inches.
(Bob Ryan's 2000 Almanac)
The minimum temperature for the date is 34°F. in Richmond, Virginia and also the latest measurable snow in Richmond of 2.0 inches melted 0.28 inches.
(Ref. Richmond Weather Records - KRIC)

1921
A severe storm in Anson County, NC produced hailstones the size of baseballs. Gardens, grain fields and trees were destroyed.
Pine trees in the storm's path had to be cut for lumber because of the hail damage.
(The Weather Channel)

1928
A coastal storm produced tremendous late season snows in the Central Appalachians, including 35 inches at Bayard, WV, 31 inches at Somerset, PA, and 30 inches at Grantsville, MD.
High winds accompanying the heavy wet snow uprooted trees and unroofed a number of homes.
The storm caused great damage to fruit trees and wild life.
(David Ludlum) (The Weather Channel)
On April 27-28, 1928 ten inches of snow and wind drifted roads shut in Rockingham county, Virginia.
This was the heaviest April snow at the Dale Enterprise Station in Rockingham county, Virginia in the past 60 years of records.
This is mentioned in the article about the April 12th snow in 1958.
(Ref. Daily News Record Newspaper - Harrisonburg, Virginia)

1973
The all-time record crest of the Mississippi River at St. Louis, MO was recorded at 43.3 feet.
This exceeded the former 1884 mark by 1.9 feet. This record was broken during the 1993 Flood.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Twenty cities in the western and central U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date.
Highs of 95 degrees at Houston TX, 95 degrees at Lake Charles LA, and 94 degrees at Port Arthur TX, were April records.
(The National Weather Summary)
A cold rain began in the morning hours over New England and turned to heavy wet snow by mid afternoon.
Record amounts of snow piled up with the heaviest amounts in the higher elevations. In Massachusetts, Princeton was buried under 25 inches of snow and Ashburnham checked in with 21 inches.
Even Boston, right on the ocean, had 4 inches of snow for a new late season snowfall record.
18 inches was recorded at Francestown, NH and 15 inches was reported at Glocester, RI.
This late season snowstorm put a strain on the record books at Worcester, MA. The 17 inches for the storm was the biggest and latest snowstorm on record.
Total snowfall for April was 21 inches. This broke the old record for April which was 20 inches in April 1894.
Total April precipitation now stood at 8.76 inches, the most precipitation in April ever.
The storm also brought the 1986-87 season snowfall to 93.7 inches, the sixth snowiest season on record.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1988
Miami FL hit 92 degrees, marking a record eight days of 90°F heat in the month of April. Squalls produced snow in the Washington, D.C. area.
Belvoir, VA reported a temperature reading of 57 degrees at the time the snow began.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1989
Strong northerly winds and heavy snow ushered cold air into the north central U.S. Snowfall totals in Montana ranged up to 20 inches at Miles City.
Thunderstorms produced severe weather from eastern Texas to the Southern Appalachians and the southern Ohio Valley.
Hail four and a half inches in diameter was reported at Keller, TX and White Settlement, TX.
(Storm Data) (The National Weather Summary)

1990
Thunderstorms produced severe weather in the southeastern U.S. during the day. Severe thunderstorms spawned four tornadoes, including one that injured four persons at Inman SC.
There were also more than one hundred reports of large hail and damaging winds, with better than half of those reports in Georgia.
Strong thunderstorm winds injured four people at Sadler's Creek SC.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
Twenty-nine cities in the northeastern U.S. reported record high temperatures for the date as readings soared into the 80s and lower 90s.
Highs of 88 degrees at Binghamton NY, 94 degrees at Buffalo NY, 89 degrees at Erie PA, 90 degrees at Newark NJ, 93 degrees at Rochester NY and 92 degrees at Syracuse NY were records for the month of April.
(The National Weather Summary)

1991
Memphis, TN recorded their wettest April ever with 15.03 inches, breaking their previous record of 13.90 inches in 1872.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1992
Intense thunderstorms dumped large hail up to 4.5 inches in diameter (softball size) and produced wind gusts to 100 mph across Tarrant, Dallas, and Ellis counties in north Texas,
resulting in the costliest severe thunderstorm event in the state's history up to the time.
Total damage was around $600 million dollars. More than 15,000 homes and 21,000 automobiles were damaged due to hail.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2002DEADLY F-5 TORNADO hits Laplata, Maryland today killing three persons.
First F-5 tornado in the U.S. since the May 3,1999 Oklahoma City F-5 tornado.
A violent F4 tornado carved a 64-mile path across Charles and Calvert Counties in southeast Maryland.
The La Plata, Maryland, tornado was part of a large severe weather outbreak that began in the mid-Mississippi Valley early on that day and spread across portions of the Ohio Valley and Mid-Atlantic States.
In La Plata, 65% of the buildings were destroyed in the downtown area.
Cancelled checks, bank and tax documents from La Plata were found in southern Delaware, over 60 miles away.
In Maryland, 3 deaths and 122 injuries were a direct result of the storm. Property damage totaled $115 million dollars.
Only six F4 tornadoes have occurred farther north and east of the La Plata storm:
Worchester, MA: 1953; New York/Massachusetts: 1973; Windsor Locks, CT: 1979; five counties in New York: 1989; New Haven, CT:
1989; North Egremont, MA: 1995. None were as close to the coast. The tornado traveled across the Chesapeake Bay almost to the Atlantic.
(Ref. NOAA Historic Events)(Ref. N.W.S. - Document Written About This Storm)(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2014
Central and Southern US Tornado Outbreak: April 27-28. Although the annual tornado count dropped below 900 for the first time in 25 years, there were several deadly outbreaks this year.
The deadliest one caused 34 deaths in Arkansas, Iowa, Oklahoma, Mississippi, and Tennessee, accounting for 72% of all United States tornado deaths in 2014.
Ref. (Weatherwise MA-JUNE 2015, page 14)

APRIL
29TH

1874
The minimum temperature for the date is 30°F. in Washington, DC.
(Ref. Washington Weather Records - KDCA)
It is the snowiest April on record in New York/New England history.
Cape Cod, MA had snow on every Saturday in the month.
Parts of Vermont and New Hampshire picked up 60 inches during the month and 24 inches fell on the 29th in northwestern New Jersey.
A half inch of snow fell at New York City for the latest measurable snow in the city's history.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1905
The town of Taylor, in southeastern Texas, was deluged with 2.4 inches of rain in fifteen minutes.
(The Weather Channel)

1910
The temperature at Kansas City MO soared to 95 degrees to establish a record for the month of April.
Four days earlier the afternoon high in Kansas City was 44 degrees following a record cold morning low of 34 degrees.
(The Weather Channel) (The Kansas City Weather Almanac)

1939
The high of 90° at Billings, MT was one of only two 90 degree days in April since 1934. The other occurred on 4/20/1980.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1954
On this date through May 2nd, a major storm dumped 10.1 inches of snow at Stapleton Airport in Denver, CO.
Most of the snow: 7.5 inches fell from this date through the 30th.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1963
A tornado as much as 100 yards in width, touched down south of Shannon MS. The tornado destroyed twenty-seven homes along its eighteen-mile path, killing three persons.
Asphalt was torn from Highway 45 and thrown hundreds of yards away.
Little rain or snow accompanied the tornado so it was visible for miles.
(The Weather Channel)

1973
The Mississippi River reached a crest of 43.4 feet, breaking the previous record of 42 feet established in 1785.
(David Ludlum)

1987
A storm off the southeast coast of Massachusetts blanketed southern New England with heavy snow.
Totals of three inches at Boston MA, 11 inches at Milton MA, and 17 inches at Worcester MA, were records for so late in the season.
Princeton MA was buried under 25 inches of snow.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988
Thunderstorms produced large hail and high winds in central Texas. Baseball size hail was reported at Nixon, and wind gusts to 70 mph were reported at Cotulla.
Heavy rain in Maine caused flooding along the Pemigewassett and Ammonoosuc Rivers.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1989
Thunderstorms produced severe weather in Arkansas, Louisiana and eastern Texas, with more than 70 reports of large hail and damaging winds. Softball size hail was reported at Palestine TX.
Hail as large as tennis balls caused ten million dollars damage around Pine Bluff AR.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1990
A storm system crossing northern New Mexico blanketed parts of the Rocky Mountain Region and the Northern High Plains with heavy snow, and produced blizzard conditions in central Montana.
Much of southern Colorado was buried under one to three feet of snow. Pueblo tied an April record with 16.8 inches of snow in 24 hours.
Strong canyon winds in New Mexico, enhanced by local showers, gusted to 65 mph at Albuquerque.
Afternoon temperatures across the Great Plains Region ranged from the 20s in North Dakota to 107 degrees at Laredo TX.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1991
Baseball size hail fell two miles east of Odebolt in Sac County and covered Highway 175.
Golf ball size hail was common in Pottawattamie County and in Buena Vista County at Newell.
In Newell, the golf ball size hail lasted 11 minutes and completed covered the ground. In addition, most of the hail storms were accompanied by wind gusts of 50 to 80 mph.
Two men were struck by lightning while golfing in Cherry Hills just south of Denver, CO. The two received only minor burns.
Shortly afterward, lightning struck a home in Cherry Hills Village several times, leaving numerous holes in the roof. No injuries were reported.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1995
Severe thunderstorms moved across Tarrant county in Texas. Hail up to 3.5 inches in diameter did an enormous amount of damage.
100 aircraft were damaged at the Dallas-Fort Worth airport. Damages in the county totaled $220 million dollars.
This was the second major hailstorm to hit the area in a month.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1998
A series of severe thunderstorms developed over Logan and McLean Counties in Illinois, mainly along I-55, causing flash flooding.
Lincoln, IL recorded 4 inches of rain in 3 hours. Most of the flooding was in an area from Lincoln to Ellsworth.
Over 1,000 buildings in Logan County sustained water damage. Damage was estimated at $1.5 million dollars.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2003
Lightning struck a chimney at a residence in Hiwan in Evergreen, CO sending stones flying as far as 150 feet.
Electrical equipment in some nearby homes failed.
Damage to the residence and the electrical equipment was estimated at $100,000 dollars.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1852
A tornado, following the same track as the famous "Tri-state Tornado" of 1925, struck the town of New Harmony IND.
Just sixteen persons were killed by the twister due to the sparse settlement. The "Tri-state Tornado" killed 695 persons.
(David Ludlum)
New Harmony, Indiana:
A tornado kills sixteen persons in the village.(Ref. WxDoctor)

1888
246 people died in the world's deadliest hailstorm in India. Hailstones were reportedly the size of baseballs.
1600 domesticated animals at Moradabad perished.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1893
During the spring of 1893, a total of 21.83 inches of rain fell in the Springfield, IL area.
This marks the wettest spring (March to May) on record.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1897
Richmond had a 50 °F daily temperature range on this date which was the second greatest daily range on record and the greatest range for April.
The maximum was 80 °F and the minimum was 30 °F on this date in 1897.
(Ref. Richmond Weather Records - KRIC)

1924
A major tornado outbreak occurred from Alabama to Virginia.
20 tornadoes were of F2 intensity or greater. A total of 111 people were killed and over 1,100 were injured.
An F4 tornado tore through Steedman and Horrell Hill, SC. 55 people were killed from this tornado.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1942
The maximum temperature today of 92°F marked a warm ending to April; in 1874 a minimum of 34° was recorded marking cold ending to April.

1947
While April does produce quite a few rainy days in Oklahoma City, OK, it is not known for extremely heavy rainfall.
The exception to this rule came back in 1947, when almost one foot of rain fell during the month.
The 11.91-inch monthly total at Oklahoma City made this the wettest April of record, but only the 8th heaviest monthly rainfall since accurate records began in 1891.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1951
Fresno, CA dropped to 37° with some frost reported in the outlying areas.
The latest time in spring that snow has fallen in Oklahoma City, OK was on this date and 4/30/1907.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1953
A F4 tornado 300 yards in width leveled homes on the north side of Warner-Robins GA, and barracks on the south side of the Warner-Robins Air Force Base.
19 people were killed, 300 injured, and total damage was estimated at $15 million dollars.
(The Weather Channel)

1962
A squall line moved through the Chicago area.
The area from Hardin, to Springfield, to Hoopeston, IL was greatly affected, as was the area from Pontiac to Joliet to Chicago.
The southern end of the squall line experienced winds of 55 to 90 mph, while the northern end had winds of 65 to 110 mph with unofficial gusts to 135 mph.
At Rantoul, two people were killed by falling debris. In Springfield, a boy was killed when a chimney fell through a school roof.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1967
A late season blizzard swept across the northern plains into the first day of May.
Snowfall across western South Dakota was generally in the 5 to 12 inch range with 16 inches at Lemmon and 30 inches in the northern Black Hills.
Winds of 40 to 50 mph reduced visibilities to near zero and piled the snow into 4 to 5 foot drifts. Livestock losses were estimated at around 5% from the storm.
15.8 inches of snow fell at Sheridan, WY (25 inches fell from April 29th through May 3rd).
Other totals: Red Lodge, MT 18 inches, Wyola, MT: 14 inches, Pryor/Yellowtail Dam, MT: 9 inches and Billings, MT: 6 inches.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1985
A giant slab of ice, six feet long and eight inches thick, weighing over 1,500 pounds, fell into a backyard in Hartford, CT.
The ice probably came off of a high flying jet plane.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1986
The driest January through April period in the history of Birmingham, AL.
Total rainfall for the period was 6.00 inches, compared with a normal of 21.46 inches.
The previous record drought for this period was 10.72 inches in 1972.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1987
Thunderstorms developing along a cold front produced severe weather in Idaho, Utah, Wyoming, and Montana.
Thunderstorms produced wind gusts to 100 mph in Lincoln, Mineraland Sanders counties.
Twenty-three cities in the central and Southeastern US reported record high temperatures for the date.
Memphis TN was the hot spot in the nation with a record high of 94 degrees.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1988
A cold front produced high winds in the southwestern U.S. Winds gusting to 90 mph in southwestern Utah downed power lines, and damaged trees and outbuildings.
The high winds also downed power lines in Nevada, completely knocking out power in the town of Henderson.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)
(India): The DEADLIEST HAILSTORM on record killed 246 people and 1,600 domesticated animals.
(Ref. Hail Events by Michael Mogil)

1989
Thunderstorms produced severe weather in central and eastern Texas. Hail three inches in diameter was reported at Cool, and thunderstorm winds gusted to 80 mph at Hillsboro.
For the first time on record Oklahoma City went through the entire month of April without a single thunderstorm.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data) (The Weather Channel)

1990
Late afternoon and evening thunderstorms produced severe weather in southern Virginia and the Carolinas, with tennis ball size hail reported southeast of Chesnee, SC.
Thunderstorms moving over the Chesapeake Bay flooded U.S. Highway 50 on Kent Island MD with several inches of water resulting in a seventeen-mile long traffic jam.
(The National Weather Summary) (Storm Data)

1991
Alta, UT ended April with record snowfall total of 136.2 inches.
The season total of 580 inches was almost 100 inches above normal.
Memphis, TN set a new monthly rainfall record for April with 17.13 inches of rain.
The old record was 13.90 inches set back in 1877.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)
Southeast Bangladesh was devastated by tropical cyclone with sustained winds of approximately 150 mph in the early AM.
A 20 foot storm surge inundated the offshore islands south of Chittagong and pushed water from the Bay of Bengal inland for miles.
Up to 200,000 deaths occurred and the estimated damage total was 1.4 billion dollars.
(Ref. Weather Guide Calendar with Phenomenal Weather Events 2012 Accord Pub. 2011, USA)

1992
Daily records included: Aberdeen, SD: 98 °F, Goodland, KS: 96 °F, Huron, SD: 95 °F, Fargo, ND: 94 °F, Bismarck, ND: 93 °F,
Grand Island, NE: 93 °F, Scottsbluff, NE: 93 °F, Rapid City, SD: 92 °F, Grand Forks, ND: 90 °F and Lincoln, NE: 90 °F.
The temperature climbed to 92 °F at the Sioux Falls, SD airport.
While quite warm for April it was not a record high for the date.
However, it turned out to be the warmest day of the year.
This is the only time on record for Sioux Falls when the warmest temperature of the year has occurred in April.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

1994
Kaneohe Ranch, Oahu, Hawaii:
It finally stops raining on the Kaneohe Ranch on the island of Oahu ending a streak of 247 consecutive days of rain which began 27 August 1993. (Ref. WxDoctor)

1996
All-time snow records fall around the Great Lakes in late snow: Cleveland, OH 101 inches, Marquette, MI 248.7 inches with a record 42 inches in April
(Bob Ryan's 2000 Almanac)

1997
In the town of Fairview, IL several homes were damaged, with two people injured. In Middle Grove, the tornado destroyed two mobile homes and damaged 25 houses.
The tornado then took an intermittent northeast path across Fulton, southeast Knox, western Peoria, and Stark Counties.
Other tornadoes touched down in Macon, McLean, Adams, Hancock, and Montgomery Counties.
Baseball sized hail fell at the Ballpark in Arlington, TX as the Texas Rangers played the Cleveland Indians.
(Ref. Wilson Wx. History)

2011
Chicago has its GLOOMIEST April ever!
The frequent precipitation led to persistent cloud cover for much of April.
According to Midway Airport observer Frank Wachowski`s monthly records of percentage of possible sunshine experienced was the cloudiest April on record with only 32 percent of possible sunshine. (Records since 1893).
(Ref. NWS Chicago, IL Weather Forecast Office 333 West University Drive)